Coach Says Henry Cejudo Will Only Return For Featherweight Title Shot

Former two division UFC champion Henry Cejudo retired after scoring a second round TKO win over former UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz in the co-main event of UFC 249.

If there is one thing that would lure Cejudo out of retirement, according to coach Eric Albarracin, it would be a shot at the UFC Featherweight Title.

“There’s really only one fighter that will bring him back and that’s Volkanovski,” Albarracin said to MMA Junkie. “That’s about him doing something that has never ever been done. He’s already done being ‘Triple C’ with the Olympic title and two UFC titles. Nobody is ever going to get that especially the mens, but there are champ-champs – he’s the fourth or fifth champ-champ in the history but there’s never been a triple UFC champ in MMA or Bellator. So that’s what intrigues him. Henry is a conqueror. Once he conquers something he’s like a viking. He’s ready to conquer the next, so that’s what intrigues him becoming a legend amongst legends and an uncommon person among uncommon people.”

Alexander Volkanovski is the current UFC Featherweight Champion and he is defending the gold against former UFC Featherweight Champion Max Holloway in the co-main event of UFC 251.

Albarracin also claims that the former two division UFC champion is the Michael Jordan of professional MMA.

“Who’s the Michael Jordan of MMA? Of course it’s Henry Cejudo,” Albarracin said. “How do I know? Because I’m the Phil Jackson of MMA. And how do I know that? Because Phil Jackson called me and said only one person can be the Phil Jackson of MMA and thats the person with all the belts. So I think Michael Jordan retired because he won his second three-peat. He came back eventually, so it’s up to the fans. If enough fans want to make it happen, why wouldn’t you put together the greatest fight? Either one comes out a legend at 145. Volkanovski is on a legend tear beating Jose Aldo and Max Holloway. Not that he could beat ‘Triple C,’ but in another universe, if he did beat ‘Triple C,’ he’s a legend. And of course, ‘Triple C’ will become C4 and he accomplishes something that no legend has ever accomplished. That would be a champion in three different weight classes in the UFC. C4, hello. Bye, bye, ‘Triple C.’”

UFC President Dana White has previously shot down Cejudo challenging for the featherweight strap, making it unlikely that the Triple C becomes a Quadruple C.