Cejudo Admits He’ll Eventually Have to Vacate a Title, Prefers Bantamweight to Flyweight

Henry Cejudo is uncertain of what the future holds for him, but he admits that being a two-division champion is not viable in the long run.

UFC president Dana White has said that he would prefer Cejudo to make a flyweight title defense for his next Octagon appearance against former foe Joseph Benavidez, who won their first matchup via split decision at “The Ultimate Fighter 24” finale. While that matchup has some appeal, Cejudo has also targeted some of the bigger names at 135 pounds.

“Obviously we’ve got Joe at 125 pounds and there’s two guys that I would like to fight at 135 pounds,” Cejudo told ESPN. “Dominick Cruz and potentially Frankie Edgar. I want another legend.”

However, White has also suggested that Cejudo will be stripped of the 125-pound belt if he doesn’t defend that title next once he recovers from shoulder surgery. The Olympic gold medalist acknowledged that he’ll eventually only be able to reign over one division, and he does seem to have a clear preference.

“Eventually I do have to leave a belt. It’s stressful having to hold up two weight divisions. I don’t want that stress on me,” Cejudo said. “So I am gonna have to choose and both weight classes. . . 135 seems more appetizing to be quite honest with you. There’s just more color, you don’t have to cut as much weight, but there is a loss on my record against Joe and that stings a little bit.”

First, Cejudo must fully recover from shoulder surgery he underwent following his victory over Marlon Moraes at UFC 238. He wants to return early next year if he can reach a satisfactory financial resolution with the promotion.

“I think I have about a month left,” Cejudo said. “I think I have three to four weeks before I can start training so I imagine around the first week of November that I’ll be 100 percent ready...I don’t want to make a decision — it sucks that I say that — until I’m 100 percent healthy and I have a meeting with the UFC. I don’t want to jump the gun not knowing what’s on the table, like, what’s gonna happen with Uncle Dana. They’ve taken care of me and whatnot but that’s something that’s huge to me. That means a lot to me…

“I’ve got two belts. I know what Daniel [Cormier] makes. I don’t want to get into it because it’s a conversation I’m gonna have to have with my boss and the organization. I’m a legend man, and I’ve got to start hitting those numbers like a legend.”