- Henry Cejudo opened up about why it was tough for him to lose at this point in his career
- “Triple C” hinted at another possible hiatus
Henry Cejudo laid out his plan to solidify his case as the GOAT ahead of his return at UFC 288. However, all that isn’t as clear as it used to be after he failed to dethrone Aljamain Sterling, who beat him via a split decision. Now, “Triple C” admitted he needs time to think about his next step.
All respect between competitors after the war of words in the build up #UFC288 pic.twitter.com/JrohsNaBai
— UFC (@ufc) May 7, 2023
More than just a loss
Speaking to reporters in his UFC 288 post-fight presser, Cejudo explained that he has always had zero tolerance for losing and he doesn’t fight just to entertain people but to “chase greatness.”
“It’s just hard, man,” Cejudo said. “I’m such a f*cking competitor. I don’t think people realize that. To me, it’s all or nothing. If I’m not first, I’m f*cking last. Sometimes you make your own bed, and that’s what happens. I’ve got to go back and think about what it is that I want to do. I’m out to chase greatness, man. I’m just not out here to fight just to fight, to hear the crowd roar. You guys tell me, ‘Good Job. I think you won.’”
“My dream is just to reach mountains that nobody’s ever climbed. That’s partially why I take my resume that seriously, and that’s probably why I even started the schtick. Because I am proud of it… The Olympic champ, the flyweight champ, the bantamweight champion of the world, the greatest combat athlete of all time… this is the stuff that motivates me,” he added.
Another time off, possibly
While Cejudo has yet to determine what’s next for him, he hinted at the possibility of taking some time off once again to fulfill his duties as a father full-time.
“I don’t know. I’ve got to lay back. My wife’s pregnant. We’re getting ready to have another kid,” he revealed. “Even these last two to three months, not being able to give my kid that attention – I’m a good father, man. I love spending time with my kid. I love playing with her. And just cutting weight, not holding her, kind of neglecting her, having my training partners play with her… That’s the stuff that means a lot to me. A lot of you guys don’t give a f*ck, but to me, the time with my kid means the world to me, especially the fact that I have another one on the way.”
UFC 288 marked Cejudo’s first UFC fight after a three-year hiatus. Like Sterling, “Triple C” previously said he plans to move up to featherweight and make history. However, it is unlikely to happen now.
