Cejudo: If I win, I’m greatest combat athlete
“Holly Holm is there, a boxing world champion and now an MMA world champion, but I feel the purity of the Olympics and the UFC belt, it would just – it’s hard to top.”
18 people have competed in both the Olympics and the UFC. None of earned both Olympic gold and the UFC belt. Henry Cejudo fights Demetrious Johnson at UFC 197 on April 23 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cejudo already won gold in the Olympics. If he beats Johnson, considered by many to be the best pound for pound fighter in MMA, then he feels that would make him the best fighter in all of combat sports.
His goals however are loftier still. He comes from a family of undocumented workers, and has overcome hardship since he was born. His fight name is The Messenger and he takes it seriously – his goal is to show people in need that success is possible.
Until somebody breaks my record of becoming a gold medalist and winning a UFC belt, I would consider – I would hope the people would see me as probably the greatest combat athlete to compete in the sport because of the accolades I have, said Cejudo to Mike Bohn for MMAjunkie. Holly Holm is there, a boxing world champion and now an MMA world champion, but I feel the purity of the Olympics and the UFC belt, it would just – it’s hard to top.
Every Friday I go out to the inner-city schools in Phoenix. I don’t get paid. I don’t work for a nonprofit. I go out on my own, and I call schools and go out there because I care. I go out there, and it means more to me than a lot of things, even more than this championship, because I’m making a difference in somebody’s life.
I get the chance to go out there and meet these kids and get them out of this rut. This is what this championship means to me. It’s just a microphone. It’s just a platform to continue to inspire others on a higher and bigger level. I’m living my dream now. Winning the UFC belt is just icing on the cake.
Whether Henry Cejudo wins or he doesn’t. he is a champion.
