Henry Cejudo’s Last Stand: Eyeing UFC Title Through Merab Dvalishvili Rematch

Henry Cejudo, the former two-division UFC champion, is laser-focused on his ultimate goal as he prepares for his comeback fight against Song Yadong at UFC Seattle. The Olympic gold medalist is determined to make one final push for a UFC title before hanging up his gloves for good.

Despite facing back-to-back losses in his recent appearances, Cejudo remains undeterred. He emphasizes that his sole objective is to reclaim championship status, stating, “If it wasn’t about that, I definitely wouldn’t be competing. This is my final run, my last hurrah.”

At 38, Cejudo acknowledges that age isn’t the primary factor in his decision-making process. Instead, he’s focused on his performance in the octagon and his ability to showcase his skills in front of large crowds.

Following his losses to Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili, Cejudo recognizes that he’s not in a position to be selective about his opponents. He accepted the bout with Song Yadong, seeing it as an opportunity to prove himself and potentially climb back into title contention.

While Cejudo’s ultimate goal is to recapture the bantamweight title, he admits that a rematch against current champion Merab Dvalishvili would be particularly satisfying. “The best feeling is winning, but even better is getting payback,” Cejudo explains, drawing parallels to his redemption against Demetrious Johnson in their second fight.

Cejudo acknowledges Dvalishvili’s impressive 12-fight win streak and recent victory over Umar Nurmagomedov. He praises the Georgian fighter’s ability to overcome the new generation of talent, stating, “Merab is the real deal.”

As Cejudo embarks on this final chapter of his career, he remains hopeful that his path will lead to a title shot and potentially a rematch with Dvalishvili. For now, his focus is on Song Yadong and proving that he still has what it takes to compete at the highest level in the UFC.