Simply a few months in the past, former UFC two-division champion Henry Cejudo expressed curiosity in a possible return to flyweight, however the division’s present champion isn’t shopping for it as Alexandre Pantoja doesn’t suppose Cejudo is critically contemplating a drop from bantamweight.
Pantoja doesn’t have the arrogance in Cejudo’s skill to get again right down to 125 kilos at age 37 – except possibly there’s medical intervention.
“Once you go to the surgical procedure physician, yeah, he wants (liposuction) to make the burden,” Pantoja instructed MMA Junkie jokingly. “I don’t suppose he could make the burden once more. He’s too huge.”
Pantoja (28-5 MMA, 12-3 UFC), who returns to defend his belt in opposition to Japan’s Kai Asakura at UFC 310 on Dec. 7 in Las Vegas, likes the battle with Cejudo and sees it as a dream matchup. He simply doesn’t suppose it could possibly occur at 125 kilos.
“I’d love the chance,” Pnatoja mentioned. “If Cejudo can try this, I’ll give him 5 kilos to battle. It is going to be a dream to battle with Cejudo, after all. He’s a legend.”
Pantoja and Cejudo share historical past. Cejudo was Pantoja’s coach throughout Pantoja’s stint on “The Final Fighter” again in 2016. But, regardless of each competing at flyweight for a number of years, the 2 have by no means crossed paths.
Pantoja is now on a six-fight profitable streak with two title defenses, whereas Cejudo is coming off two consecutive defeats, with one in opposition to then-champion Aljamain Sterling for the UFC bantamweight title.
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