Henry Cejudo’s UFC 298 fight week started with a viral ‘prank’ firing his coach on camera, but ‘Triple C’ knows it could end in retirement.
The former double-champ made headlines earlier this week when he appeared to fire his head coach on camera for the UFC Countdown show, a move that was widely condemned by both fans and fellow fighters.
Speaking to media ahead of his UFC 298 clash against Merab Dvalishvili, Cejudo has confirmed that he will “100 percent” retire if he comes up short against the Georgian wrecking ball come Saturday night.
Firing his coach on camera ‘was a prank’, but (this time) retirement isn’t fake
When they aren’t involved in either the main or co-main event of a UFC PPV, fighters often resort to drastic and unique ways to get themselves in the headlines – and there aren’t many athletes who can rival the marketing drive of Henry Cejudo.
The former champion landed himself in hot water earlier in the week when he appeared to fire head coach Eric Albarracin on camera, shown on the UFC 298 Countdown documentary.
“You were with me from my last Olympic trials, you’ve been there for me. But, as of right now, I just want to let you know that for this camp, dude, I’m getting rid of specific coaches, man. That’s you included, dude.”
The MMA community understandably reacted negatively towards the clip, not necessarily the firing of Albarracin, but the fact that the event was quite clearly staged for the UFC Countdown cameras.
As the pressure ramped up, both Cejudo and Albarracin confirmed that the controversial moment was nothing more than a prank to gain attention.
The veteran coach told The MMA Hour on Wednesday how ‘that’ moment had been filmed in “early December” – not in the days leading up to the broadcast as many assumed.
Yet the former champ is now ditching the jokes and pranks to discuss a more serious topic, retirement.
Speaking at the UFC 298 media day, Cejudo confirmed that he will “100 percent” retire if he can’t get passed surging opponent Merab Dvalishvili this weekend.
“It’s big-time pressure [now]…You’ve got to put these clauses on you [because] I’m not going to continue to fight just to fight man. My goal is, I’m too competitive man, I want to be the best in the world. I want that belt and I really want that other one. That’s kind of where I’m at, so if I can’t have that then I don’t want anything. They [can] keep it all.”
A more restrained Cejudo than the fighter from the controversial Countdown episode, ‘Triple C’ noted that the pressure is on him to go out there and prove that he can still compete at the highest level.
“And if I can’t have it, then I just don’t want it.”
Henry Cejudo takes on Merab Dvalishvili this weekend at UFC 298.