Henry Cejudo Tells Flyweight Contenders to “Step it up”, Help Keep The Division “Alive”
By FCF Staff
Since Henry Cejudo won the UFC’s bantamweight title last summer, the decorated fighter has sounded much more interested in defending that belt next, and that continues to be the case.
The flyweight champ added the 135 title to his resume by taking out Marlon Moraes at UFC 238. After the win, Cejudo called out notable bantamweights like Urijah Faber, Dominick Cruz and Cody Garbrandt. UFC President Dana White, however, has said Cejudo should defend the flyweight title against Josep Benavidez next. The latter defeated Cejudo in 2016, and Cejudo hasn’t defended the flyweight title since January when he stopped T.J. Dillashaw.
While talking to the media recently about his next fight, and White’s calls for him to defend the flyweight title, Cejudo said this (quotes via MMA Junkie):
“Again, Dana White isn’t weighing 160 pounds,” said Cejudo, who is recovering from shoulder surgery. “I need to speak to him and I do need to be fair to Joe. I need to be fair to the rest of the division, because I don’t want to keep two divisions in limbo. We’re going to have that conversation. Once I have that conversation with Dana, you guys will all know.”
“One thirty-five is full of more color,” Cejudo said. “I’m disappointed with the flyweights, too… Nobody is really bringing that persona, nobody is really talking smack, nobody is really trying to compete. So again, I did my part and I’ll continue to do my part. It’s up to these flyweights to step it up and keep this division alive.”
The 32-year-old Cejudo won the flyweight title in August, 2018, by recording a split decision win over Demetrious Johnson. After Cejudo won the bantamweight title, White ended long term speculation about the flyweight division’s future in the UFC, by saying the division would continue.