Henry Cejudo (image via UFC/YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Leading up to UFC 298, Henry Cejudo was adamant that if he wasn’t victorious, a second, retirement announcement would come. But, now the decorated fighter is reporting he’s not hanging up the gloves after all.

As Cejudo prepared to fight surging, bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili, the former champ-champ announced he would retire if he lost. Cejudo ended up dropping a unanimous decision, but immediately after the fight, he did not make any announcement.

More recently, however, the 37-year-old reported via his YouTube channel that he’s not prepared to retire again (quotes via MMA Fighting.com).

“I just cannot let it roll like this. I just cannot,” Cejudo said. “As much as it hurts. Again, guys, I take the L. But I cannot take the L knowing the way that I pretty much went out. I don’t mind the losing aspect of it. Maybe just the way that I did go — the being winded side, the not trying to knock this dude out because I was tired — I think that’s the stuff that really bothers me. So as of today, guys, I was getting ready to announce my [retirement] — a couple of days ago, I literally did a whole video on my retirement, thanking my family, thanking my friends, thanking everybody who has been there…”

“So I’m here today, ladies and gentlemen, taking my word back as a man, confronting you guys, you the people, you my fans, you my family, you my friends, you the haters, that I just cannot go out like this. And guys, to say the least, it is far from over with the Triple C.”

Cejudo (16-4) initially retired in May, 2020, after he stopped Dominick Cruz to retain the bantamweight title. The accomplished wrestler had vacated the UFC’s flyweight title a few months earlier.