“He retired after that to not have to face anybody but he’s still chirping,” Cruz told ESPN. “It’s not championship stuff when you do that, to me. You’re keeping yourself safe and trying to find yourself until you get the right position to come back. . . That target on your back, that’s what breaks champions, the target on your back over a long period of time. . . To me, that’s the sign of a real champion. It isn’t if you can win the belt, it’s how long can you hold it? How long can you stay at the top with that target on your back?”
Cruz knows a little about what he speaks, having won the WEC championship in 2010 and then defending it and the unified UFC title four more times over the next 20 months. He then held the belt another two and a half years while suffering injury setbacks that ultimately forced the UFC to vacate his title. In contrast, Cejudo defended the bantamweight title just once and held it only for 352 total days before retiring.
In the years before his retirement, Cejudo embraced a “King of Cringe” persona that he credits with “saving the flyweight division” (something many flyweights take umbrage with) and has since continued to double down on this public image, recently Tweeting at UFC President Dana White that he could beat the flyweight, bantamweight, and featherweight champions in two rounds. The Tweet gained little traction which Cruz would ascribe to the fact that the UFC has minimal financial interest in bringing Cejudo back.
“I don’t think so,” Cruz said about the UFC bringing Cejudo back. “He has this thing where he believes he’s worth millions and millions of dollars and I think that Dana doesn’t care. So probably not because he wants a certain amount of money before he’ll come back and fight, and I don’t know if he’ll ever get that.
“You look at the rest of the division, Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling - two top contenders that are fighting for the belt coming up - those guys aren’t asking for that kind of money and they’re going to bring a crazy fight to the table. So why would you bring back Cejudo, who’s playing it safe on the sidelines? For what? He doesn’t bring any extra views. If you’re a Conor McGregor, if you’re a Ronda Rousey, yes, you figure it out. But if you’re Henry Cejudo, he doesn’t bring some sort of awe factor to these fights to where everybody can’t wait to tune in to watch him. They’re just kind of laughing at him. He’s cringy.”
Unsurprisingly, the King of Cringe did not take kindly to these words from his former foe and true responded to Cruz yesterday via Twitter.
This comment right here smells like alcohol and cigarettes. You still waking up from the nap I gave you ? Have fun on the prelims Dominique https://t.co/UNCiLuvN55
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) February 24, 2021
Cruz faces Casey Kenney in the featured fight of the preliminary card for UFC 259, a position he has no issue with.— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) February 24, 2021
“That’s probably the most seen position on the entire fight card,” Cruz said. “I’ll have the most eyes on me. Like I said, I’ve had a pretty decent layoff, so let’s get me in front of a lot of eyes is what I’m thinking. At the same time, being on the prelims, that’s an ego thing. I’m not really attached to my ego at this point. I know what I am. I know the things that I’ve accomplished.”
[h=1]TOP STORIES[/h] 125. Valentina Shevchenko vs. Jessica Andrade targeted for flyweight title fight at UFC 261.
Blessed. Max Holloway on Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega: ‘I’m the cloud over that fight’.
Justified. GoFundMe set up for MMA-trained man who fought Spencer Jones, attorney says it was ‘legally justified’.
Charity. Walt Harris and his wife launch Aniah’s Heart Foundation to help families with a missing loved one.
GP. ONE announces eight-woman grand prix to determine challenger for atomweight champion Angela Lee.
[h=1]VIDEO STEW[/h] The A-Side Live Chat.
Israel Adesanya’s bonus resume.
Free fight.
Volko Champ Camp.
Rogan discussing Conor.
Also, Kevin Holland is a charismatic dude.
[h=1]LISTEN UP[/h] The Bash. Dissecting the UFC’s muddled welterweight title picture.
UFC Unfiltered. Interviews with Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Montana De La Rosa.
[h=1]SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE[/h] Truth.
Re-watching the first fight b/w Ashley Yoder and Angela Hill in advance of this weekend's rematch and man...Brian Stann brought so much to our commentary teams.
— Jon Anik (@Jon_Anik) February 24, 2021
That’s a pretty sick bracelet.— Jon Anik (@Jon_Anik) February 24, 2021
Very important #UFC259 update: The champ officially has his lucky hangman's rope on him for fight week. Jan says he cut off a big piece and had it turned into a bracelet, in case someone stole the original. Gold piece is a wolf.
Adjust your betting lines accordingly. pic.twitter.com/0hXvtgeTIr
— Shaheen Al-Shatti (@shaunalshatti) February 24, 2021
Tony with Freddie Roach.Adjust your betting lines accordingly. pic.twitter.com/0hXvtgeTIr
— Shaheen Al-Shatti (@shaunalshatti) February 24, 2021
Great first day, Champ! @TonyFergusonXT @ufc @danawhite @WildCardBoxing1 pic.twitter.com/7mFAjKjJgd
— Freddie Roach (@FreddieRoach) February 25, 2021
Askren.— Freddie Roach (@FreddieRoach) February 25, 2021
And the finisher!!!! See you April 17 @jakepaul @triller pic.twitter.com/pzPBUWvcvW
— Funky (@Benaskren) February 24, 2021
Brian Kelleher.— Funky (@Benaskren) February 24, 2021
I can’t sit wit this shit too Long.. not happy with my last performance at all. To me the worst part about it was how amazing I felt before making the walk. It’s always a work in progress dealing with pre fight nerves and this time I never felt more dialed in. Then I get cut
— Brian BOOM Kelleher (@brianboom135) February 25, 2021
— Brian BOOM Kelleher (@brianboom135) February 25, 2021
By a beautiful elbow which is the first time in my career being cut and my reaction became to survive and no longer to kill. I’m very upset with that. You cannot lose focus in this game for a split second. You must be unfazed throughout and keep the kill switch on. I’ve learned
— Brian BOOM Kelleher (@brianboom135) February 25, 2021
— Brian BOOM Kelleher (@brianboom135) February 25, 2021
A lot from this loss though and for that I will be back better and mean as can be. Such a crazy game man there were fights I was in the locker room just overcome by nerves and didn’t want to be there and I go out and win and then there was last fight feeling invincible in the
— Brian BOOM Kelleher (@brianboom135) February 25, 2021
— Brian BOOM Kelleher (@brianboom135) February 25, 2021
Back then go out and lose like that. Interesting stuff
— Brian BOOM Kelleher (@brianboom135) February 25, 2021
Tattoo.— Brian BOOM Kelleher (@brianboom135) February 25, 2021
No, I do not want to be an Ultimate Fighter.
[h=1]FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS[/h] Charles Jourdain (10-3-1) vs. Marcelo Rojo (16-6); UFC Vegas 21, Mar. 13.
Gillian Robertson (9-5) vs. Miranda Maverick (8-2); UFC 260, Mar. 27.
Valentina Shevchenko (20-3) vs. Jessica Andrade (21-8); UFC 261, Apr. 24.
Sage Northcutt (11-3) vs. Shinya Aoki (46-9); ONE on TNT 4, Mar. 28.
Maurice Greene (9-5) vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima (17-7-1); UFC Fight Night, May 8.
[h=1]FINAL THOUGHTS[/h] Thanks for reading and see y’all tomorrow.
[h=1]EXIT POLL[/h]
If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @JedKMeshew on Twitter and let him know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram and like us on Facebook.
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