Henry Cejudo (image via UFC/Twitter)

By FCF Staff

A few weeks ago, Henry Cejudo hinted that his comeback will conclude if he’s defeated at UFC 298, and now the former champ’s confirmed he will retire if he loses Saturday night.

Cejudo is booked to fight surging and top contender, Merab Dvalishvili, at the event.  The fight will mark the second time Cejudo (16-3) has competed, since he ended his retirement last year to battle now-former bantamweight champ, Aljamain Sterling. The latter won the fight via split decision.

While talking with the media this week, ahead of UFC 298, Cejudo reported he will hang up the gloves again if Dvalishvili beats him (quotes via MMA Fighting.com).

“Yeah, 100 percent, [I will retire],” Cejudo said. “It’s big time pressure. Because I know I’ve got to fight. You’ve got to put these clauses on you. I’m not going to continue to fight just to fight. I’m too competitive. I want to be the best in the world. I want that belt, and I really want that other one [at featherweight]. That’s kind of where I’m at.

“If I can’t have that, then I don’t want anything. Keep it all. Why did I retire? It wasn’t even a money thing. It was like what else is motivating me? I mean that was part of it, too. I would have loved for Uncle Dana [White] to maybe give me a bump up on my raise after defending both of my belts, but it is what it is. I respect the s*** out of him.”

The decorated wrestler, and former flyweight and bantamweight champ, initially retired in 2020.

Dvalishvili (16-4), meanwhile, is riding a nine fight winning streak and is currently ranked #2 in the UFC’s bantamweight division. Cejudo is #3.

UFC 298 is taking place in Anaheim, California.