UFC flyweight Henry Cejudo returns to Las Vegas after boycott
Henry Cejudo is a man of the people.
The 2008 Olympic gold medalist in wrestling announced during a media scrum Wednesday all the good he would do if he took the flyweight championship belt from Demetrious Johnson on Saturday night at MGM Grand Garden Arena.
“That purpose is a message of hope, a message of love … to lift self esteems,” said Cejudo, the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s No. 2 contender in the flyweight division. “To let people know that things are possible in life, you work hard, dedicate yourself, dream big, sacrifice all, you will end up with a good career.”
Cejudo, who’s of Mexican descent, has fought for immigration rights and taken a stance on the use of medicinal marijuana.
Cejudo said he was boycotting fighting in Nevada after hearing Nick Diaz was given a five-year suspension, $165,000 fine by the Nevada Athletic Commission in September following a failed drug test for marijuana metabolites.
He made it clear he would not fight Johnson for the title if the match were made in Las Vegas.
“I wasn’t going to fight here in Las Vegas,” Cejudo said. “I wasn’t going to fight Demetrious Johnson. We told that to Sean Shelby (UFC matchmaker).”
Cejudo backed down from his protest in January once the NAC reduced Diaz’s suspension to 18 months and a fine of $100,000.
“I wish they wouldn’t have taken so much money,” Cejudo said. “It’s still $100,000 they took from him, but they did reduce it. I’m just glad I could help. Like I said, you need the GSPs (Georges St-Pierre) of the world, the Manny Pacquiaos of the world to help elevate the sport.”
With the mini protest behind him, Cejudo was all smiles in Las Vegas during his open workout at the MGM casino floor on Wednesday.
Cejudo’s workout turned into a salsa class after his trainers requested for the Latin music and urged a woman to dance with the wrestling specialist.
“(Salsa dancing) is part of my secret weapon,” a joking Cejudo said. ”I might have to use it Saturday night. I’m talking about the after party, though.”
Cejudo (10-0) has the tough task of dethroning Johnson (22-2-1), who is seeking his eighth title defense at UFC 197. The fighter from Arizona has won his first four UFC fights to earn the title shot.
The 29-year-old Cejudo became the youngest American to win a gold medal in wrestling at the age of 21 during the Beijing Games.
“I’m ready,” Cejudo said about fighting Johnson. “I’m different. I know you’ve heard that from a lot of people, but I’ve chosen to do this. I fight with passion, I fight with purpose and when you get a human being that fights with that it’s gonna be really hard for you to take me out.”
There was a bit of irony with Cejudo making his Vegas return on the unofficial national holiday (4/20) for marijuana users.
“I didn’t think about that, but free Nick Diaz,” Cejudo said.
Contact Gilbert Manzano at gmanzano@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0492. Follow him on Twitter:@gmanzano24
