Henry Cejudo Flirts With Comeback: The King Will Only Return If The Price Is Right

Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari - Zuffa LLC

Former undisputed UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion, Henry 'Triple C' Cejudo has continuously flirted with the snapping of a May 2020 retirement, ever since he surprisingly announced his decision to hang up his gloves, and maintains "if the price is right" the self-proclaimed king will make his comeback to the sport.

Cejudo, who turned 34-years-old in February, shockingly announced his retirement from professional mixed martial arts back in May of last year following his successful bantamweight title defence against former two-time gold holder, Dominick Cruz on short-notice in Jacksonville, Florida. 

The Olympic gold medalist vacated his undisputed bantamweight championship after the second round knockout win, having already given up his flyweight crown earlier in the year as he switched attention to endeavours a division higher. 

Concrete retirements in the world of MMA are few and far between it has to be said, and Cejudo, a client of Ali Abdelaziz at Dominance MMA has remained in the spotlight ever since his last outing against Cruz, most recently engaging in a staredown with recently minted bantamweight champion, Aljamain Sterling, following the Uniondale native's disqualification win over Petr Yan at UFC 259 two weeks ago.

Speaking with ESPN MMA reporter, Brett Okamoto recently, Cejudo maintained that while he's still retired from mixed martial arts, if the UFC made a sufficient monetary offer to him in order to entice him to snap his retirement, then he would consider it.

"Well, the king will only return if the price is right, man," Cejudo said. "'Cause, you know, everybody's got a price -- everybody's got a price of gold, and that's it, man. And when it's right -- when I feel like it's right -- it's the golden rule; the guy with the gold makes the rules. But when I feel like it's right, 'Triple C' will be back."

An eighteen fight professional veteran, Cejudo holds a 16-2 record, dropping defeats to both former UFC flyweight champion, Demetrious Johnson, as well as a close split decision loss to multiple-time title chaser, Joseph Benavidez.

Making his professional debut back in March of 2013, Cejudo avenged his first round knockout loss to Johnson at UFC 227 in August of 2018 in a split decision win to claim the undisputed flyweight championship. Defending the title, Cejudo stopped former two-time bantamweight best, T.J. Dillashaw before clinching the vacant 135-pound title in a rallying effort against Marlon Moraes. In other career wins, the Californian bested the likes of Jussier Formiga, Wilson Reis, as well as upcoming Bellator bantamweight title chaser, Sergio Pettis.