Tag: Henry Cejudo

Henry Cejudo removes longtime coach Eric Albarracin from his fight camp ahead of UFC 298

Henry Cejudo and Eric AlbarracinIt’s either win or go home for Henry Cejudo on February 17. The former two-division world champion returns to…

Henry Cejudo and Eric Albarracin

It’s either win or go home for Henry Cejudo on February 17.

The former two-division world champion returns to the Octagon at UFC 298 in Anaheim nine months removed from his split decision loss against then-bantamweight titleholder Aljamain Sterling. This time, ‘Triple C’ will square off with Sterling’s best friend and No. 2 ranked contender at 135, Merab Dvalishvili.

If Cejudo wins, he will likely face the winner of next month’s bantamweight title tilt between defending champ ‘Sugar’ Sean O’Malley and Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera. But if he loses, it could bring an end to his iconic UFC career.

“This is for the No. 1 contender spot,” Cejudo said in an interview on The HJR Experiment. “I think after losing to Aljamain, I think if I was going to go maybe down the ladder, I would probably be done with fighting again. Yeah, man. Because it’s just like, this sport is hard, man. Training camps, having two kids and things like that. It’s all or nothing, man.”

Facing a do-or-die situation, Henry Cejudo is taking some extreme steps to give himself the best possible shot at snapping Dvalishvili’s nine-fight win streak. During the latest episode of UFC Countdown, ‘Triple C’ broke the news to his longtime coach — Eric Albarracin — that his services would not be needed for what could be the final fight camp of Cejudo’s career.

“You were with me for my last Olympic trials,” Cejudo told Albarracin. “You’ve been there for me, but as of right now… I just want to let you know for this camp, I’m getting rid of specific coaches. You included.”

“Sometimes you are too close to somebody and people just get too comfortable,” Cejudo added.

Throughout his illustrious run as a mixed martial arts coach, Albarracin has coached Bellator stars Patricio Pitbull and Patricky Pitbull, former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo, one-time UFC title challenger Paulo Costa, and the recently retired ‘Korean Zombie’ Chan Sung Jung. All in all, he has coached 13 world champions.

Cejudo’s decision to relieve Albarracin of his duties ahead of UFC 298 earned mixed reactions from fight fans — some commending the Olympic gold medalist for doing whatever it takes to win while others disparaged his decision to break the news on camera.

“Great to see Cejudo’s willing to do whatever it takes.”

“Interesting move by Triple C.”

“Bringing a camera crew to have that conversation with someone is wild.”

“He’s going all in.”

“That had to be hard for Cejudo and of course, it’s gonna hurt Eric it’d be weird if it didn’t sting a little but they’re pros they know what they need.”

“Why is this idiot doing it on camera?”

Henry Cejudo likely to retire with a loss against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 298: ‘It’s all or nothing, man’

Henry CejudoIt’s all or nothing for Henry Cejudo at UFC 298. Nine months after failing to reclaim the bantamweight title…

Henry Cejudo

It’s all or nothing for Henry Cejudo at UFC 298.

Nine months after failing to reclaim the bantamweight title in his return to the Octagon, ‘Triple C’ will look to score himself another shot at UFC gold on February 17. But to do so, he has to go through one of the most feared fighters at 135, Merab Dvalishvili.

With a win, Cejudo sees his next fight being against the winner of UFC 299’s showdown between bantamweight titleholder Sean O’Malley and Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera. But a loss against ‘The Machine’ will likely send the Olympic gold medalist into retirement for the second and final time.

“This is for the No. 1 contender spot,” Cejudo told The HJR Experiment. “I think to have to lose it to Aljamain … I think if I was going to go maybe down the ladder, I would probably be done with fighting again because it’s just like the sport is hard, man. Training camps, having two kids, and things like that. … It’s all or nothing, man.”

Henry Cejudo Says Fighting Is Not Always About The Love of the Sport

Cejudo currently occupies the No. 3 spot in the bantamweight rankings, one behind Dvalishivili and two under former division champ Aljamain Sterling. With the ‘Funk Master’ making the move to featherweight later this year, he’s expected to relinquish his spot at the top.

‘Triple C’ returned at UFC 288 last year, challenging Sterling for the 135-pound crown. Cejudo came up short, losing on two of the three judges’ scorecards.

“It’s more of a motivation of vengeance,” Cejudo continued. “It’s not always the love. Even coming back to the sport, I was like, ‘I want to test myself.’ I like the matchup. It has been three years, but it was also the financial compensation. I mean, there’s nothing easier to make money than the fight game” (h/t MMA Mania).

Henry Cejudo diagnosed with ‘brain damage’ ahead of UFC 298 return: ‘Dr. Merab will fix this problem’

Dr. Merab DvalishviliMove over Dr. Quinn, Dr. Nick, and Doogie Howser. We’ve got a new M.D. running things and his name…

Dr. Merab Dvalishvili

Move over Dr. Quinn, Dr. Nick, and Doogie Howser. We’ve got a new M.D. running things and his name is Dr. Merab.

Riding a nine-fight win streak, Merab Dvalishvili will head to Anaheim, California on February 17 looking for his 10th win in a row and a long-awaited shot at the bantamweight world championship. Standing in his way at UFC 298 will be former two-division titleholder Henry Cejudo. ‘Triple C’ enters the bout determined to bounce back from a failed attempt to dethrone then-champion Aljamain Sterling in May.

Ahead of their potential title eliminator, Dvalishvili delivered a clever bit of trash talk via a post on Instagram. Morphing into a whole new persona, Dr. Merab, ‘The Machine’ poked fun at the bantamweight division’s top 10 while suggesting that his next opponent is suffering from an accute case of brain damage.

“Hey Henry Cejudo, what are you talking about me? Don’t think I forgot about you,” Dvalishvili said on social media. “Brain damage. We have a result from hospital. Henry Cejudo has longer tongue than himself. But no worries, Dr. Merab will fix this problem on February 17th. See you there Henry!”

Multiple fighters, including Aljamain Sterling, were highly entertained by Dvalishvili’s hilarious dig at Cejudo and much of the 135-pound weight class. “Lmaooo brooo! This is too good!” Sterling commented. Paulo Costa posted a series of laughing-out-loud emojis in response while MMA interviewer Nina Drama wrote, “Merab is the FUNNIEST fighter in all of MMA.

Merab Dvalishvili currently sits in the No. 2 spot in the bantamweight rankings, one above Henry Cejudo. With a win over ‘Triple C,’ he will likely punch his ticket to a title fight with the winner of UFC 299’s title clash between defending champ Sean O’Malley and Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera.

Henry Cejudo Says Fighters Like Sean Strickland Need to stop sharing their personal struggles with everyone

Henry Cejudo talks Sean StricklandHenry Cejudo is tired of seeing fighters air their dirty laundry and personal struggles to the public. Things have…

Henry Cejudo talks Sean Strickland

Henry Cejudo is tired of seeing fighters air their dirty laundry and personal struggles to the public.

Things have begun to heat up, particularly in the middleweight division where the ever-outspoken Sean Strickland currently sits atop the throne. Last month, Strickland and his UFC 297 challenger, Dricus Du Plessis, got into a heated exchange during the promotion’s seasonal press conference after ‘Stillknocks’ had commented on the champ’s history of growing up in an abusive home.

Cejudo, a former two-division UFC world champion, doesn’t see any benefit to putting these issues out in the open. Particularly in the case of Strickland who has spent plenty of time launching personal attacks on other fighters before being targeted for his own publicized vulnerabilities.

“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*cks, and things of that nature. How do you not expect somebody else to come at you?”

Before getting into a physical altercation with Du Plessis at UFC 296, Sean Strickland launched a campaign against rising welterweight contender Ian Macho Garry and his wife, Layla Anna-Lee, calling her a “succubus” and “predator” after it was revealed that the 40-year-old TV personality had written a book on how to date young athletes and celebrities. Anna-Lee is 14 years younger than Garry.

While Cejudo suggested that making things personal could add a level of motivation for someone like Strickland come fight night, ‘Triple C’ ultimately believes that fighters, including Alexander Volkanovski, should save their traumatic experiences and personal battles for a more private setting.

“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*ck. Keep some of that sh*t to yourself. The world doesn’t need to know” (h/t MMA Mania).

Jorge Masvidal tipped to snap retirement in title fight with Leon Edwards at UFC 300: ‘It’s all based off marketing’

Jorge Masvidal tipped to make UFC 300 comeback in title siege against Leon Edwards it's about marketingDespite reports earlier this week detailing how incumbent welterweight champion, Leon Edwards is in line to defend his divisional…

Jorge Masvidal tipped to make UFC 300 comeback in title siege against Leon Edwards it's about marketing

Despite reports earlier this week detailing how incumbent welterweight champion, Leon Edwards is in line to defend his divisional strap in a rematch against foe, Belal Muhammad at UFC 300 in an April return – the recent retirement u-turn of long-time rival, Jorge Masvidal, may throw a certain spanner into the works, according to an ex-two-weight champion.

Edwards, the current undisputed welterweight champion, most recently headlined UFC 296 just last month in Las Vegas, Nevada, landing a unanimous decision win over former interim gold holder, Colby Covington in the pair’s long-anticipated grudge fight.

And in the weeks following his win, Birmingham native is already eyeing up a UFC 300 feature in April – confirming his expected return on the card in a busy start to his 2024 fighting schedule.

Furthermore, reports during the week revealed that despite initial talks of a championship siege for Shavkat Rakhmonov at the event, Edwards is likely set to fight surging welterweight contender and prior opponent, Muhammad in a title rematch in April.

Jorge Masvidal tipped for UFC 300 comeback in title siege

However, a prior rival from Edwards’ past may enter the title fray according to former two-weight gold holder, Henry Cejudo, who pointed to the potential shoo-in entry of former title chaser, Jorge Masvidal into a blockbuster UFC 300 championship picture against the U.K. star.

“Jorge Masvidal just unretired… I think he still has that chip on his shoulder,” Cejudo said on his YouTube channel. “He’s probably chasing [a fight with] Leon. You know what they’re [the UFC] probably thinking? ‘We’re probably gonna exit out Belal Muhammad and give Jorge Masvdial that three piece and a soda, and give him the opportunity to eventually fight Leon Edwards.’”

“…The UFC is a damn entertainment company,” Cejudo continued. “[And] for that reason, I think Jorge Masvidal comess back and he legit fights for the title. If Belal can not make a storyline or build something or get people behind him – Dana White, and Hunter Campbell – it’s all based on marketing.” 

Do you expect Jorge Masvidal to make his return to the Octagon at UFC 300?

Henry Cejudo rips Sean Strickland for emotional outburst amid UFC 296 brawl: ‘He’s somewhat of a crybaby’

Henry Cejudo rips Sean Strickland for emotional outburst after UFC 296 he's a crybabyFormer two-division Octagon gold holder, Henry Cejudo has labelled undisputed middleweight kingpin, Sean Strickland a “crybaby” – in reaction…

Henry Cejudo rips Sean Strickland for emotional outburst after UFC 296 he's a crybaby

Former two-division Octagon gold holder, Henry Cejudo has labelled undisputed middleweight kingpin, Sean Strickland a “crybaby” – in reaction to the latter’s emotional outburst and melee with incoming title challenger and foe, Dricus du Plessis in the crowd at UFC 296 last weekend.

Cejudo, a former undisputed flyweight champion and bantamweight gold under the banner of the promotion, as well as an Olympic gold medalist, made his return from a three-year retirement back in May.

Challenging for divisional spoils, Los Angeles-born contender, Cejudo suffered a close, split decision loss to former champion, Aljamain Sterling in the pair’s title affair.

Booked to make his return to the Octagon at UFC 298 in Anaheim, California, taking on surging bantamweight challenger, Merab Dvalishvili in a potential championship eliminator.

Henry Cejudo labels Sean Strickland a “crybaby”

And sharing his thoughts on Strickland’s brawl on fighter row with du Plessis ahead of the pair’s UFC 297 title showdown in Canada, Cejudo donned Strickland a “crybaby” for his emotional outburst.

“[Sean Strickland] likes to talk about other people, he likes to talk about other people’s wives,” Henry Cejudo said on his YouTube channel. “But when somebody brings up something about his past and with his dad, all of a sudden he’s crying. So, as cool as Sean Strickland could be – and the funny things that he could be, he’s also somewhat of a crybaby.”

“I was a fan, but the fact now that he’s really bringing it to the fists – like fighting outside of an actual Octagon – let’s me know that hte dude is just frickin’ emotional…” Henry Cejudo explained. “And now when they say something about you when you were a kid, and all this other sh*t, now you get p*ssed off and you’re the first one throwing blows. You know what that is? That’s a b*tch move.”