Henry Cejudo Walks Back Retirement Talk Following UFC 298 Defeat

It was all but a certainty that Henry Cejudo would retire for a second time if he lost to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 298.

Apparently Cejudo’s plans have changed.

After dropping a unanimous decision to Dvalishvili in a featured bantamweight bout at UFC 298, the former two-division champion recently confirmed that he will continue fighting in a video on his YouTube channel.

“Was Dana White right that [I] did leave three years behind? Three of [my] prime years? Yeah, I’ll give it to him. Recognizing it now, the way that I did feel Saturday, the way that [the situation] already kind of played out, you start to kind of psychologically just like, ‘Damn, are these dudes right? I couldn’t have it any other way?’” Cejudo said. “One, if I could change everything, I probably would never come back — but now that I’m back, now I’ve got to s—t where I sleep. And for that reason, man, I just cannot go out like that.

“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 ended a three-year retirement last May, when he dropped a split-decision to Aljamain Sterling at UFC 288. He started out well against Dvalishvili at UFC 298, but faded over the final 10 minutes agianst the relentless pace and pressure of his opponent. Cejudo previously stated that his fight against Dvalishvili was an "all or nothing" situation.

“Saturday night, was it all or nothing for me? Yeah, and I meant it – or did I really?” Cejudo said. “Have I truly been a hypocrite to myself? The last time I lost two times in a row, I lost to Demetrious Johnson and I lost to Joseph Benavidez. I went down and I f—-ing created one of the biggest rampages in UFC history. Avenging my loss to Demetrious Johnson, beating T.J. Dillashaw on EPO. Taking out No. 1 contender Marlon Moraes and knocking the brakes, knocking the teeth out of Dominick Cruz.

“… What I’ve accomplished in combat sports has truly been second to none. You guys may not like me. You may not like the schtick, you may not like the persona, but one thing you will say is Henry Cejudo has done s—t unachievable and has lived maybe about three lifetimes in his actual life.”