Henry Carlos Cejudo (born February 9, 1987) is an American freestyle wrestler, Olympic gold medalist, mixed martial artist and author. He became an Olympic gold medalist at 21 years old, the second youngest American wrestler to do so (Kyle Snyder became an olympic champion at 20 years old at the 2016 Rio Games). Cejudo debuted in the bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship in December 2014 at UFC on Fox: dos Santos vs. Miocic. As of March 9th, 2017, he is #2 in the official UFC flyweight rankings. Cejudo is of Mexican descent; and, by both his parents being Mexican (both from Mexico City, Mexico), he inherits that citizenship; and therefore, he has dual nationality.
Video Henry Cejudo
Wrestling career
Henry captured four high school wrestling state championships (two in Colorado, two in Arizona). He was awarded (the title) ASICS National High School Wrestler of the Year (2006).
He participated in two Junior World Championships, placing fifth in 2005 and second in 2006. That same year, Henry became the first high schooler to win U.S. Nationals since USA Wrestling's formation as the sport's national body in 1983. Cejudo decided to skip wrestling at the college level and instead accepted an offer from USA wrestling to train at their main facilities in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Henry won the Pan American Championships in March 2008. Henry Cejudo is the youngest of seven siblings including Angel Cejudo four time state champ at Maryvale High School (Phoenix, Arizona).
2008 Beijing Olympics
Cejudo qualified for the Olympics in the 55 kg, (121 pound) weight class. He entered the competition in the Round of 16. In his first round match, against Bulgaria's Radoslav Velikov, Cejudo lost the first period, 2-1, and was forced to win both of the remaining periods to win the match.
In the quarterfinals, Cejudo faced Georgian wrestler Besarion Gochashvilli and again lost the first period, but bounced back to win the last two periods to advance.
In the semifinals, Cejudo again was forced to win the last two periods but did so for the third time in the tournament, defeating Azerbaijani wrestler Namig Sevdimov to advance to the gold medal match.
For the gold medal match, Cejudo faced Japanese wrestler Tomohiro Matsunaga and, for the first time in the tournament, was able to win the first two periods which secured the gold medal.
2012 Olympic Trials
After four years since his last appearance at the 2008 Beijing Olympics Henry decided to make a return to the mat in 2012 to capture a second Olympic gold medal. After losing in the 2012 Olympic Trials, Henry Cejudo retired from the sport of wrestling in the traditional manner by taking off his wrestling shoes and placing one on the mat and throwing the other into the crowd of wrestling fans walking away and officially retiring from the sport of wrestling. Immediately at the end of the match he lost, the crowd of fans in the arena rose in a standing ovation to recognize his achievements. As he removed his shoes, the roar of applause grew and continued to rise as he left the mat.
Wrestling credentials
2005
- NYAC Holiday Tournament champion
- Finished fifth at the Sunkist Kids International Open
- Finished fifth at the Junior World Championships
2006
- ASICS National High School Wrestler of the Year
- Second at the Junior World Championships
- FILA Junior World Team Trials champion
- Pan American Championships gold medalist
- Second at the U.S. World Team Trials
- U.S. Nationals champion
2007
- Pan American Games gold medalist
- U.S. World Team Trials champion
- DNP at the World Championships
- U.S. Nationals champion
- Fifth at the Kiev International
- Second at the Takhti Cup (Iran)
- Third place at the Golden Grand-prix Ivan Yarygin (Krasnoyarsk, Russia)
2008
- Olympic gold medalist - youngest Olympic wrestling champion in U.S. history
- Pan American Championships gold medalist
- Second at the U.S. Nationals
- U.S. Olympic Team Trials champion
2012
- After going 2-1 at the trials Henry falls to Nick Simmons eliminating the chance to make the Olympic Team
- Instead of ceremoniously leaving his shoes on the mat signifying retirement, he tossed them in to a standing ovation at Carver-Hawkeye Arena
Additional Wrestling Accolades
- Four-time state champion (two in Arizona, two in Colorado).
- Two-time ASICS High School First Team member
- First high-school wrestler to win U.S. Nationals since USA Wrestling became the sport's national governing body in 1983
- Nationally ranked number one at 125 pounds by Wrestling International News magazine
- Rocky Mountain Nationals Champion
Maps Henry Cejudo
World/Olympic Championships Matches
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
On Jan. 30, 2013, Cejudo announced on his Twitter page that he plans to begin training for a career in MMA. Despite wrestling at 121 pounds during his wrestling career, Cejudo fought at 135 pounds in his MMA debut. He defeated Michael Poe by TKO due to punches in his MMA debut on March 2, 2013, for the Arizona-based World Fighting Federation.
Over the next year, Cejudo amassed an undefeated record of 6-0 with three wins by TKO, one by submission, and two by decision. Prior to signing with the UFC, Cejudo was listed as the #1 ranked bantamweight prospect in the MMA Prospects Report 2013.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
On July 25, 2014, Cejudo signed with the UFC. He is the third Olympic gold medalist wrestler in company history, after Mark Schultz and Kevin Jackson. Cejudo was expected to face Scott Jorgensen on August 30, 2014, at UFC 177. However, due to medical issues on the day of the weigh-ins, Cejudo was forced out of the bout and the fight was subsequently cancelled. In light of this, and his history of missing weight, president Dana White said Cejudo must either move up to bantamweight or leave the UFC.
In his eventual debut, Cejudo faced Dustin Kimura in a bantamweight bout on December 13, 2014, at UFC on Fox 13. Cejudo won the fight by unanimous decision.
Cejudo faced Chris Cariaso in a flyweight bout on March 14, 2015, at UFC 185. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
Cejudo faced Chico Camus on June 13, 2015, at UFC 188. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
Cejudo was briefly linked to a bout against former title challenger Joseph Benavidez on September 5, 2015, at UFC 191. However, the fight will not take place at the event. In turn, Cejudo faced Jussier Formiga on November 21, 2015, at The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 2 Finale. He won the fight by split decision.
On September 16, 2015, Cejudo announced that he would refuse to fight in Nevada after the Nevada State Athletic Commission suspended and fined Nick Diaz following a failed drug test at UFC 182. Cejudo cited the NSAC's process in determining Diaz's guilt as the reason for the boycott. Despite the lack of change in NSAC procedure, Cejudo ended his Nevada boycott to face UFC Flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson on April 23, 2016, at UFC 197 for the Flyweight title. He lost the fight via TKO in the first round being dropped with a variety of strikes.
In May 2016, the UFC announced that Cejudo would be one of the coaches, opposite Joseph Benavidez on The Ultimate Fighter 24. The pairing faced each other on December 3, 2016, at The Ultimate Fighter 24 Finale. Cejudo lost the back and forth fight via split decision.
Cejudo was expected to face Sergio Pettis on May 13, 2017, at UFC 211. However on May 10, Cejudo pulled out of the fight with a hand injury and the bout was canceled.
Cejudo faced Wilson Reis on September 9, 2017, at UFC 215. He won the fight via TKO in the second round. This win also won Cejudo his first Performance of the Night bonus award.
A rescheduled fight with Pettis took place on December 2, 2017, at UFC 218. Cejudo won the fight by unanimous decision.
Championships and achievements
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Wilson Reis
Mixed martial arts record
See also
- List of current UFC fighters
- List of male mixed martial artists
References
External links
- Professional MMA record for Henry Cejudo from Sherdog
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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