MORRISTOWN, N.J. – Henry Cejudo doesn’t think he has it that tough in his return to MMA. Actually, he sees it as quite the opposite.
Despite a three-year absence from fighting, and UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling as opposition in his first fight back, “Triple C” is confident he’ll re-claim the title with ease.
“Because it’s easy money,” Cejudo told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a UFC 288 pre-fight news conference when asked why he was returning from retirement. “It’s easy money. I watched these guys after coaching some of the best in the world – Jon Jones, Demetrious Johnson, Zhang Weili, Deiveson Figueiredo, Jiri Prochazka – and I started to understand my talent a little bit better.
“I know there is a window, I know there is a gap where I really do have to say goodbye. I’m 36 years old, I’m 36 years young, and I feel good. I feel really good.”
Cejudo (16-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) and Sterling (22-3 MMA, 14-3 UFC) clash in the main event of UFC 288, which takes place Saturday at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN/ESPN+.
Some may be skeptical of Cejudo’s claims, although maybe not skill-wise, given he retired as champion in 2020, which leaves it tough to question he’s a world-class fighter. However, the time away from fighting can hinder many athletes, especially a fighter in his late 30’s.
“Yeah, I’ve been retired for three years. But really, I’ve been retired for two because this whole last year I’ve been training,” Cejudo explained. “This whole last year I’ve been studying. Those last two years I’ve been training (with) the best in the world, and it’s just the accumulation of knowledge. … I may grow a gut, I may like fried chicken like Daniel Cormier, but I can compete with anybody, and I believe I’m the greatest competitor of all time.”
Cejudo doesn’t expect the judges to be needed for his title fight at UFC 288.
“Not only am I looking to beat Aljamain Sterling, but I’m looking to dominate him,” Cejudo said. “He ain’t going past three rounds.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 288.