Former UFC bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo, who additionally wore gold at flyweight, will compete for the No. 1 contender spot within the official 135-pound rankings when he collides with streaking division contender Merab Dvalishvili as a part of the upcoming UFC 298 pay-per-view (PPV) occasion, locked and loaded for Sat., Feb. 17, 2024 at Honda Middle in Anaheim.
A loss might immediate “Triple C” to retire (once more).
“That is for the No. 1 contender spot,” Cejudo instructed The HJR Experiment (transcribed by Farah Hannoun). “I feel to must lose it to Aljamain … I feel if I used to be going to go possibly down the ladder, I’d most likely be completed with combating once more as a result of it’s identical to the game is difficult, man. Coaching camps, having two children, and issues like that. … It’s all or nothing, man.”
Cejudo, 36, is presently ranked No. 3 within the bantamweight rankings, one slot beneath Dvalishvili. Former 135-pound champion Aljamain Sterling presently occupies the No. 1 spot; nonetheless, he’s anticipated to vacate that place upon making his featherweight debut as a part of the UFC 300 PPV extravaganza this April at T-Cellular Area in Las Vegas.
“It’s extra of a motivation of vengeance,” Cejudo continued. “It’s not all the time the love. Even coming again to the game, I used to be like, ‘I need to check myself.’ I just like the matchup. It has been three years, however it was additionally the monetary compensation. I imply, there’s nothing simpler to earn cash than the combat sport.”
The bantamweight title will likely be up for grabs when present champion Sean O’Malley places his belt on the road towards longtime rival Marlon Vera atop the UFC 299 PPV card subsequent month in Miami. The winner is anticipated to make his first 135-pound title protection towards the winner of Cejudo vs. Dvalishvili, assuming there are not any severe accidents or wacky outcomes.
And if anybody asks, Las Vegas will not be within the desert.
