Henry Cejudo isn’t so sure about some of his fellow fighters’ recent openness with their personal struggles.
The Middleweight division in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has taken the spotlight to start 2024. Reigning champion, Sean Strickland, is set to make his first defense when challenged by Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297 on Jan. 20, 2024.
Things unexpectedly heated up in the pair’s first face-to-face encounters last month (December 2023) as some comments from Du Plessis about Strickland’s rough upbringing got in the head of the champion. They then came to blows at UFC 296 the night after the 2024 UFC seasonal press conference (Dec. 15, 2023). Cejudo, a former two-division UFC champion and Olympic gold medalist, doesn’t see the benefit in letting some of these vulnerabilities escape privacy. Specifically in the case of Strickland, who has voiced his opinion on numerous others’ personal lives in mixed martial arts (MMA) since his rise to fame.
“I wouldn’t share things that bug you if you can’t be an advocate for it,” Cejudo said on his YouTube channel. “Especially to the world. But you’re talking about peoples’ wives and calling people f—s, and things of that nature. How do you not expect somebody else to come at you?”
The same month that Strickland had his back-and-forths with Du Plessis, he was having a side rivalry of sorts with UFC Welterweight contender, Ian Machado Garry. Strickland made several comments about Garry and his wife that bothered the couple enough to threaten legal action.
Cejudo believes in most cases, allowing the emotions to overtake oneself like Strickland has admitted ahead of his Du Plessis encounter could throw him off his fight gameplan. There is also the extra motivation factor, however, which Cejudo admits to being perhaps more possible with someone like Strickland. Ultimately, “Triple C” recommends fighters — including UFC Featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski — to stay quiet unless they’re going to use their experiences for good.
“I hope you can come to the consensus to be able to accept the fact that you’re in this game, bro,” Cejudo said. “Learn how to play, don’t be [mocks crying]. You can’t, man.
“It’s the same with Volkanovski,” he continued. “Volkanovski is showing his cards that he goes through anxiety if he doesn’t fight. Like, bro, like what the f—k. Keep some of that s—t to yourself. The world doesn’t need to know.”