Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champ-champ Henry Cejudo is expected to miss the rest of the 2019 campaign after undergoing surgery earlier today (June 19, 2019) to repair a muscle tear in his left shoulder.
According to ESPN’s Ariel Helwani, Cejudo suffered the injury in the opening round of his title fight against Marlon Moraes at UFC 238 a few weeks back in Chicago, Illinois (see it again here). Undeterred, Cejudo – who was going into the fight with a bum ankle – went on to make history by knocking out “Magic” in the third round to win the vacant Bantamweight title.
After defeating Demetrious Johnson, T.J. Dillashaw and Moraes in the span of 10 months, some time off would be welcomed for Henry, who is on one of the most impressive runs in recent memory.
While “The Messenger” is sidelined, it will give the Flyweight and Bantamweight division time to play itself out, as Cejudo is determined to defend both titles. That means a fight between Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling at 135 pounds now seems more likely, while the winner of Jussier Formiga and Joseph Benavidez will still have to win another fight if they want a crack at Cejudo’s 125-pound strap.
Or they can simply play the waiting game.
According to doctor’s, Henry will not be able to have any type of training for at least five months, meaning an early 2020 return is possible for the king of cringe.