H. Cejudo (photo) wants to be remembered as a great MMA athlete. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @ufc
Controversial, ironic, arrogant and loudmouth. All of these adjectives can be used to represent Heny Cejudo. However, one thing no one can deny: he is a true champion. Current owner of the flyweight belt (up to 56,7kg.) and next challenger for the vacant bantamweight title (up to 61,2kg.), the North American will face, next Saturday (8), the Brazilian Marlon moraes and tries to make MMA history once and for all. If he emerges victorious, the athlete will join the group of fighters who have won two belts in different categories in Ultimate.
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Like it or not, Cejudo has already achieved two historic feats in the UFC. Firstly, the North American managed to shock the world by beating the legendary Demetrious Johnson, in August last year, ending an almost six-year reign by his compatriot and winning the flyweight title. Secondly, in addition to the belt, the athlete had the privilege of being known as the first fighter in the history of Ultimate to become the organization's champion and boast an Olympic gold medal on his resume.
Even though he brought gold to his country at the Beijing Olympics (China) in 2008, and is the current flyweight champion, Cejudo is not a unanimous star among his audience. With his casual and provocative style, the athlete ends up losing fans, who often choose to support an athlete from another country rather than their own representative.
In recent interviews, the fighter reported that he works daily to change his image in front of the public he defends. For Henry, the best way to be increasingly known and respected is to remain at the top of the sport and achieve unprecedented feats. This weekend, then, the North American will have the opportunity, once again, to try to please MMA admirers.
Since winning the flyweight title, Cejudo has defended his belt on just one occasion, when he faced TJ Dillashaw, former bantamweight champion, who ventured into the lower category to try to gain another number one position. Henry managed to defeat TJ, but he still hasn't become the star he wants to be.
This Saturday, however, the situation could improve for the North American. If he manages to defeat Marlon, the athlete will join the group of fighters who hold two belts in different categories in the UFC. Henry often says that he is not a fighter, but a competitor. All that remains is to wait for the outcome of the UFC 238 to make sure that the Olympic champion will finally be recognized for what he has shown within MMA.
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