Former UFC Flyweight and Bantamweight Champion, and Olympic Gold Medalist, Henry Cejudo recently gave some clarity as to his future in Mixed Martial Arts. The former double champion is set to fight Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 298 on February 17, and Cejudo has stated that it is do or die for the outcome of this fight. Cejudo stated in an interview with with the HJR Experiment expressing what will happen, win or lose.

"This is for the No. 1 contender spot,” Cejudo claimed. “I think after losing to Aljamain, I think if I was going to go maybe down the ladder, I would probably be done with fighting again. Yeah, man. Because it’s just like, this sport is hard, man. Training camps, having two kids and things like that. It’s all or nothing, man.”

This is not the first time Cejudo has contemplated retirement. Cejudo’s previous fight was against a fellow former Bantamweight Champion, Aljamain Sterling at UFC 288 in May 2023. Many though that Cejudo did enough to earn the decision victory, but he ended up being edged out via split decision.

In the post fight interview, an emotional Cejudo took off his gloves after the fight, which is a sign that a fighter is going to announce his retirement. Cejudo then explained to Joe Rogan that he was unsure if he should continue.

“It was close, but Aljamain did his job, he got the victory,” Cejudo said. “It sucks, I hate losing. But, it’s also been three years. I just don’t know where this puts me, Joe. I’m a little confused. It’s like Ricky Bobby: If I’m not first, I’m last. If I can’t beat Aljo? My biggest goal was to go up to 145 lbs, if I can’t get the victory over him, I don’t know where that puts me.”

No matter how his next fight goes, he will still be considered one of the greatest combat sports athletes to ever compete. No other mixed martial artist can claim to have two championships and an Olympic gold medal, and his legacy will be forever solidified, regardless of the result.