Henry Cejudo Says Point Deduction Cost Him Fight With Joseph Benavidez
Henry Cejudo coached opposite Joseph Benavidez on the UFC Ultimate Fighter 24, but the two coaches battled at the UFC Ultimate Fighter 24 and Benavidez walked away with a decision win in instant classic. Cejudo believes the win was given to Benavidez after a point deduction.
"Do I think it’s fair? I’ve seen people get hit in the balls, gouged in the eyes and rarely do you see points get take away," said Henry during the TUF 24 Finale post-fight presser. “As much as I don’t like Joe, I really didn’t mean to hit him in the balls. In a street fight, yes, but not in an organized mixed martial arts (MMA) fight like this. they took the point and that’s probably what cost me the fight. I’ll have to watch the fight, because everybody keeps coming up, even some of his personal friends, telling me they thought I won," said Cejudo while laughing. "I should’ve recorded it for you guys."
For those who did not so the fight, Cejudo nailed Benavidez with two illegal kicks to the groin, he was deducted a point after the second illegal kick, a point deduction that referee Yves Lavigne warned him about after Cejudo landed the first kick. It's worth noting that even without the point deduction, Benavidez would have been given the win.
It was the second loss Cejudo has suffered in his career, the first came to current UFC Flyweight Champion Demetrious Johnson. Benavidez has only suffered two losses in his UFC career, both of which came to the aforementioned Johnson.
