Mario Bautista shot his shot with former two-division UFC champion and Olympian wrestler Henry Cejudo after UFC 307. It didn’t go as well as he might have hoped. Bautista came out of UFC 307 pay-per-view in October with his biggest career win over Jose Aldo. But it wasn’t a win that the MMA community liked — although he did what needed to be done for the win.
Since then, the MMA community has turned on him. In a backstage moment at Friday night’s LFA 196 event in Phoenix, UFC 155lber Drakkar Klose captured a moment between the two. Bautista went for a meet-and-greet and even called for a bout. Cejudo used the opportunity to diss the bantamweight prospect with some choice words.
Can I tell you something? You can’t be so damn boring though, …Nobody’s going to fight you like that…Listen, [I’m an] Olympic champ, flyweight champ, bantamweight champ, what have you done? But look who I lost to: At that time, I lost to the current champ and the other guy is now the former champion. Are you going to fu*king nut grab? What are you going to do? Are you going to stick me against the cage like you did with Aldo?
Henry Cejudo, backstage at LFA 196
The Team MMA LAB switch stance bantamweight retorted by saying he’s on a seven-fight win streak while Cejudo has two losses in a row. Since coming out of retirement, Cejudo has lost a title fight to then-champion Aljamain Sterling. Then he dropped a decision to the current 135-pound titleholder Merab Dvalishvili.
😤💥 Henry Cejudo tells Mario Bautista:
“You can’t be so boring bro.”And then they go back and forth.
🎥 @drakkarklose pic.twitter.com/Yepd4Lk78N— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) November 9, 2024
Mario Bautista wanted to poach better chances and move ahead, but Cejudo brushed him off. As of now, neither fighter has a billing for their next octagon appearance. The matchup would certainly have some flare in one of the deepest divisions of the sport. Bautista hasn’t had a loss since a stunning knockout of Trevin Jones at UFC 259 in March 2021. As for Cejudo, he has other plans.
Henry Cejudo’s flyweight tease makes UFC champ Alexandre Pantoja skeptical
Just a few months ago, former UFC two-division champion Henry Cejudo expressed interest in returning to flyweight. But the division’s current champion isn’t buying it. Alexandre Pantoja doesn’t believe Cejudo is seriously considering a move down. Pantoja doesn’t think Cejudo can make it back down to 125lbs at the age of 36 and above – unless for medical intervention.
Pantoja (28-5 MMA, 12-3 UFC) returns to defend his belt against Japanese Kai Asakura at UFC 310 PPV on December 7 in Las Vegas. He likes the Cejudo fight and sees it as a dream fight. He just doesn’t think it can happen at 125 pounds.
I’d love the opportunity, …If Cejudo can do that, I’ll give him five pounds to fight. It will be a dream to fight with Cejudo, of course. He’s a legend…I don’t think he can make the weight again. He’s too big.
Alexandre Pantoja to MMA Junkie’s Danny Segura
Henry Cejudo is among the most successful fighters ever. The 37-year-old won six straight fights – including the flyweight title against Demetrious Johnson at UFC 227 in August 2018. Then he scrapped for the bantamweight title two fights later when he stopped Marlon Moraes at UFC 238.
Pantoja shares a past with Cejudo. Cejudo was Pantoja’s coach while on The Ultimate Fighter in 2016. However, despite both competing at flyweight for several years, the two have never crossed paths. Now on a six-fight winning streak with two title defenses, “Cannibal” welcomes the challenge.
