Former UFC bantamweight and flyweight champion Henry Cejudo, announced the retirement after he successfully defended his bantamweight title against Dominick Cruz at UFC 249 in May. Although his coach Eric Albarracin previously stated that he believes ‘Triple C’ has left MMA for good, he now thinks we could see him return. But only if the UFC offer him a specific opponent. Namely Alex Volkanovski.
Speaking to MMA Junkie, Albarracin open up on what he thinks it would take for Cejudo to return to the Octagon.
“There’s really only one fighter that will bring him back and that’s Volkanovski. That’s about him doing something that has never ever been done,” Albarracin said. “He’s already done being ‘Triple C’ with the Olympic title and two UFC titles. Nobody is ever going to get that especially the mens, but there are champ-champs – he’s the fourth or fifth champ-champ in the history but there’s never been a triple UFC champ in MMA or Bellator.
“So that’s what intrigues him. Henry is a conqueror. Once he conquers something he’s like a viking. He’s ready to conquer the next, so that’s what intrigues him becoming a legend amongst legends and an uncommon person among uncommon people.”
The UFC featherweight belt will be on the line at UFC 251 on July 11th, when Volkanovski and Max Holloway face each other for a second time, on Fight Island.
Albarracin didn’t clarify if Cejudo would like to fight for the 145-pound title if Holloway manages to win the belt back. But ‘Captain America’ couldn’t be more clear in stating that Cejudo already did enough to be considered the GOAT.
“Who’s the Michael Jordan of MMA? Of course it’s Henry Cejudo. How do I know? Because I’m the Phil Jackson of MMA,” he said. “And how do I know that? Because Phil Jackson called me and said only one person can be the Phil Jackson of MMA and thats the person with all the belts.
“So I think Michael Jordan retired because he won his second three-peat. He came back eventually, so it’s up to the fans. If enough fans want to make it happen, why wouldn’t you put together the greatest fight? Either one comes out a legend at 145. Volkanovski is on a legend tear beating Jose Aldo and Max Holloway. Not that he could beat ‘Triple C,’ but in another universe, if he did beat ‘Triple C,’ he’s a legend. And of course, ‘Triple C’ will become C4 and he accomplishes something that no legend has ever accomplished. That would be a champion in three different weight classes in the UFC. C4, hello. Bye, bye, ‘Triple C.’”
How do you think Henry Cejudo would do against Alex Volkanovski?
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