After an impressive performance at UFC 249, Henry Cejudo shocked many by announcing his retirement from MMA.
The former two-division champion never talked about retiring from the sport for good leading up to the event; however, an interview with MMA Fighting in late 2019 revealed that Cejudo was definitely willingly to walk away if the money wasn't right (Transcript courtesy of the sports geek):
“I’m in this game for 100-percent money,” he said. “I’m in this to make money, I’m not in this for another championship. I’ve accomplished everything I’ve wanted to accomplish. There’s only one thing missing: A whole bunch of zeroes behind me competing and entertaining a bunch of people. I want to fight the best but if the number doesn’t equal out to what I feel like I’m gonna get paid, then I’m out, they can keep both belts.”
So, did Cejudo leave because the money just wasn’t there for him?
The former Bantamweight Champion doesn’t state that when he discussed why he decided to hang up the gloves for good; however, he does make it clear that’s he's accomplished all the goals he wanted to achieve in UFC:
“Since I was 11 years old, I probably have 600 competitions of wrestling matches in my life. That’s all I’ve ever done. I don’t have kids. I’ve finally got a girl now, and I want to step into that new chapter of my life. I’ve been extremely selfish and rightfully so to obtain what I’ve obtained – can I say it again? Olympic champ, (UFC) flyweight champ, (UFC) bantamweight champ, and I defended both world titles. And man, I want to leave on top. I did it in wrestling and I want to do it now in the sport of mixed martial arts. I just don’t see myself coming back and I want to remain king forever.”
Not surprisingly, many believed that this could be a ploy to get a bigger check from Dana White, and Cejudo doesn’t turn down the idea of returning to the octagon for the right amount; however, the retirement is indeed real and not a cheap stunt for more money:
“(White) knows the number,” Cejudo said. “But let all these bantamweights kill each other. Let them have fun, they’re complaining that I’m picking fights and all you have to do is look at my resume. They can say whatever they want, but I’ve done everything. I’ve done everything, and man, I do feel like I should be part of Mount Rushmore when it comes to combat sports.
“In combat sport I do feel I’m the greatest with all that I have accomplished. In wrestling, I wasn’t the greatest, yeah Olympic champ, but I wasn’t the greatest wrestler of al time. I’m not the greatest fighter of all time, but when you mix my resume and what I’ve done, I do believe I’m on top of that mountain. I do sincerely believe that I’m the greatest combat athlete of all time and I do want to leave on top.”