Henry Cejudo has his next target in mind.
Despite Jose Aldo coming up short in a split decision loss in his bantamweight debut this past Saturday night at UFC 245, the reigning 135-pound champion would still like to face him when he’s ready to return from shoulder surgery.
UFC president Dana White had previously said that Cejudo texted him immediately after the event ended last weekend complaining that Aldo should have earned the win against Marlon Moraes and adding that he wanted to grant him a title shot regardless of the loss on his record.
Cejudo then took to Twitter to release a video where he called out Aldo personally while asking to face him in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
“So upon my return, I really did want to fight Dominick Cruz but I thought about it and he’s too brittle. If I was to tell Dominick Cruz to bend the knee, he’d pop his damn neck out,” Cejudo shouted in his video. “But actually I’m not here to talk about Dominick. I’m here to talk about Jose “Waldo.”
“I want to give him a clap at his last performance because a lot of people thought he won. I want to congratulate him because now he’s part of the Henry Cejudo sweepstakes but it’s under my terms. I want to fight him in my city. Rio de Janeiro. Daddy’s coming home. Dana White, let’s sign that contract.”
While Cejudo seems intent on defending his bantamweight title against Aldo next, that leaves the flyweight division in limbo.
After defending the 125-pound title in January, Cejudo turned his attention towards bantamweight but White wanted him to return to flyweight for a showdown with top ranked contender Joseph Benavidez for his next bout in 2020.
Hearing that Cejudo is calling for a bantamweight title fight against Aldo didn’t sit well with Benavidez, who has been patiently waiting on the sidelines in hopes that he could fight the flyweight champion next year after previously holding a win over him from 2016.
“It’s obvious you don’t want to fight me and have no interest of going back down to flyweight,” Benavidez wrote in response to Cejudo. “Just stop stringing sh*t along with the company and the division. I’m ready to fight!”
Obviously, Cejudo vs. Aldo would be a big fight for the UFC, especially if it happens in Brazil but that still leaves the flyweight division in purgatory until the champion decides what he’s doing with the 125-pound belt.
For his part, White cracked a smile when asked about Cejudo taking on Aldo while adding “I don’t hate it” when asked if it actually might happen. Perhaps Cejudo will get his wish while Benavidez anxiously awaits word on the future of the flyweight championship.
Henry Cejudo calls out Jose Aldo for next title defense, Joseph Benavidez responds
Obviously, Cejudo vs. Aldo would be a big fight for the UFC, especially if it happens in Brazil but that still leaves the flyweight division in purgatory until the champion decides what he’s doing with the 125-pound belt.
For his part, White cracked a smile when asked about Cejudo taking on Aldo while adding “I don’t hate it” when asked if it actually might happen. Perhaps Cejudo will get his wish while Benavidez anxiously awaits word on the future of the flyweight championship.
Obviously, Cejudo vs. Aldo would be a big fight for the UFC, especially if it happens in Brazil but that still leaves the flyweight division in purgatory until the champion decides what he’s doing with the 125-pound belt.
For his part, White cracked a smile when asked about Cejudo taking on Aldo while adding “I don’t hate it” when asked if it actually might happen. Perhaps Cejudo will get his wish while Benavidez anxiously awaits word on the future of the flyweight championship.
