[autotag]Henry Cejudo[/autotag] takes argument with the UFC’s claim it stripped has him of the flyweight title. According to the now-former champion, he gave up the belt voluntarily.
Just minutes after MMA Junkie broke news Cejudo (15-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) was being stripped of his belt to set up Joseph Benavidez vs. Deiveson Figueiredo on Feb. 29 in Norfolk, Va., the UFC bantamweight champion released a statement with his reaction.
“No, I am not being stripped,” Cejudo told MMA Junkie. “I am relinquishing my title. Correction! ‘Triple C’ is relinquishing his title to these wannabe, so-called flyweight kingpins. That’s what’s going on. I’m relinquishing my belt. Being stripped is not what I’m doing. I’m relinquishing, and you can tell them all to bend the knee.”
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With the 135-pound belt still in his possession, Cejudo is close to making his return to the octagon. He has a bevy of potential challengers waiting in the wings, but first must finish rehabilitation on his injured shoulder, which required surgery following his title win over Marlon Moraes at UFC 238 in June.
Benavidez (28-5 MMA, 15-3 UFC) vs. Figueiredo (17-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) is being targeted to headline UFC on ESPN+ 27, which takes place Feb. 29 at Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Va. The card will stream on ESPN+. Benavidez carries a three-fight winning streak into the bout, while Figueiredo has won two in a row.
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