UFC: Henry Cejudo officially relinquishes title after confirming retirement – ‘Triple C is out’

Henry Cejudo has issued an official statement confirming his retirement from the sport of MMA and thanking UFC president Dana White.

“Triple C” Cejudo (16-2), who shocked fans by announcing his retirement after TKOing Dominick Cruz at UFC 249 earlier this month, had said he was open to a comeback if the money was right.

But the 33-year-old former flyweight and bantamweight champion took to Instagram on Tuesday to officially relinquish his bantamweight belt, with the promotion removing him from the official rankings.

“Thank you for the awesome experiences uncle Dana White[,] I will forever be grateful. Thank you for taking a chance on the sport that people thought would never make it. To all my coaches and fans [it’s] been a wonderful ride. Triple C is out #retiredontop,” said Cejudo, a 2008 Olympic gold medallist.

However, rumours of a return to the Octagon continue after Cejudo hinted there is one fight that could persuade him. “Honestly, if there’s one fight that would really wake me up, that would be worth it for me to be like ‘hey man, I’m willing to put my credentials on the line for somebody’, it would be fighting Alexander Volkanovski at 145 pounds. Then I’d be C4,” Cejudo said in the post-Cruz fight press conference.

Featherweight champion Volkanovski, who won the belt off Max Holloway via unanimous decision in December last year, responded on Twitter on Monday: “Let’s do it then boy!”

Former light heavyweight champion and fellow USA Olympic wrestling team alumni Daniel Cormier commented on Cejudo’s retirement post: “You’re the man Cejudo! Congrats on a lifetime of success my little brother.”

Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman added, “GOAT status!!!”, hinting that he felt Cejudo is one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time.