Henry Carlos Cejudo (born February 9, 1987) is an American freestyle wrestler and former professional mixed martial artist. He last competed in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former UFC Flyweight Champion and Bantamweight Champion. Cejudo is the fourth UFC fighter to hold titles in two different weight classes simultaneously, and the second to defend titles in two different weight divisions. He is considered to be among the greatest combat athletes of all time due to his accomplishments in MMA and freestyle wrestling.
He currently competes in the Lightweight division of Real American Freestyle (RAF), where he debuted at RAF 06. During his wrestling career, Cejudo competed at 55 kilograms and became the youngest American Olympic gold medalist in wrestling history at the time, winning the 2008 Summer Olympics at age 21. As a senior level freestyle wrestler, he was also a 2007 Pan American Games gold medalist, as well as a multiple-time Pan American Championships gold medalist and US national champion.
When Cejudo was four, his mother fled to New Mexico with her children before his father, who was jailed after threatening to kill his whole family and subsequently getting into an altercation in the street, was released. His father was Deportation when Cejudo was six years old and died when Cejudo was about 20 years old. After a couple of years in New Mexico, the family relocated to Phoenix, Arizona. In Phoenix, the family lived in Maryvale in poverty despite their mother working multiple jobs to make ends meet.
Cejudo never slept alone in his own bed until he was provided one by USA Wrestling while participating in a residency program at the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado. He also started competing as an amateur boxer, and won the annual state Copper Gloves boxing tournament in 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Cejudo enrolled at Grand Canyon University in 2010 and graduated in 2015 with a degree in Theology.
In 2006, Cejudo won the Fargo National title in freestyle. Soon after his victory, he began full-time training at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.[1] There, he prepared for the U20 World Championships; after a fifth-place finish in 2005, Cejudo was able to claim the silver medal for the United States team. He opted to pursue an international career in freestyle rather than competing in collegiate wrestling.
On March 22, 2007, Cejudo captured a bronze medal at the World Cup. In April 7, he claimed his second US National title while compiling wins over collegiate and international standout Nick Simmons and two-time All-American Vic Moreno. On May 18, he earned his second Pan American title. Cejudo then made the US World Team after two straight wins over Matt Azevedo. Before the 2007 World Championships, he warmed up with a Pan American Games title. At the World Championships, he was taken out in the opening round by Uzbekistan's Erkin Tadzhimetov and placed 31st.
Cejudo was coached for the Olympics by Kevin Jackson, the first Olympic gold medalist to win a UFC championship.
At the 2008 Summer Olympics, Cejudo opened up with a win over Radoslav Velikov, the 06' World Champion; after losing the first period 0–1, he bounced back with 3–2 and 4–3 periods. In the next round, he faced Besarion Gochashvili from Georgia; the same results as his opening bout popped up, after losing the first period 1–3, he came back with scores of 3–2 and 3–0 to defeat Gochashvili. He then wrestled Azerbaijan's Namig Sevdimov, whom he took out after once again losing the first period (3–5) and winning the next two (3–2, 4–3). In the finale, he met Tomohiro Matsunaga, a athlete who was coming fresh off an Asian title; he won the first period after scoring the biggest move and won the second period after a comfortable 3–0 score. This made Cejudo the youngest United States to win Olympic Gold in wrestling history at age 21 (record was later broken by Kyle Snyder, 20, in 2016). He then took a break from his freestyle wrestling career.
In his first tournament since his lay-off, Cejudo claimed a Sunkist Open title after compiling four victories, on October 28, 2011. On November 26, 2011, he earned a silver medal from the Henri Deglane Challenge, after being defeated in the finals by Ghenadie Tulbea.
At the 2012 US Olympic Team Trials, Cejudo downed Obe Blanc before being defeated by the top-seed Nick Simmons, failing to make his second US Olympic Team. After the Simmons match, Cejudo put his shoes in the middle of the mat, signaling his retirement from the sport.
In June 2018, Cejudo was prestigiously inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member.
Soon after his exhibition match with Ramos, Cejudo flirted with the possibility of making a 2016 Olympic Run, however, his intentions never materialized.
Cejudo signed with Real American Freestyle (RAF), and debuted at RAF 06 by defeating Urijah Faber on February 28, 2026. He was scheduled to headline RAF 08 against Merab Dvalishvili on April 18, 2026, but the match was postponed after Cejudo was injured. Cejudo will headline RAF Georgia against Dvalishvili on July 11, 2026.
Over the next year, Cejudo amassed a record of 6–0 with three wins by TKO, one by submission, and two by decision. Prior to signing with the UFC, Cejudo was listed as the #1 ranked bantamweight prospect in the MMA Prospects Report 2013.
In his eventual debut, Cejudo faced Dustin Kimura in a bantamweight bout on December 13, 2014, at UFC on Fox 13. Cejudo won the fight by unanimous decision.
Cejudo faced Chris Cariaso in a flyweight bout on March 14, 2015, at UFC 185. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
Cejudo faced Chico Camus on June 13, 2015, at UFC 188. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
Cejudo was briefly linked to a bout against former title challenger Joseph Benavidez on September 5, 2015, at UFC 191. However, the fight did not take place at the event. In turn, Cejudo faced Jussier Formiga on November 21, 2015, at The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 2 Finale. He won the fight by split decision. Brandon Moreno confirmed that he helped Cejudo train for this fight.
On September 16, 2015, Cejudo announced that he would refuse to fight in Nevada after the Nevada State Athletic Commission suspended and fined Nick Diaz following a failed drug test at UFC 182. Cejudo cited the NSAC's process in determining Diaz's guilt as the reason for the boycott. Despite the lack of change in NSAC procedure, Cejudo ended his Nevada boycott to face UFC Flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson on April 23, 2016, at UFC 197 for the Flyweight title. He lost the fight via TKO in the first round, being dropped with a variety of strikes.
In May 2016, the UFC announced that Cejudo would be one of the coaches, opposite Joseph Benavidez on . The pairing faced each other on December 3, 2016, at . Cejudo lost the back-and-forth fight via split decision.
Cejudo was expected to face Sergio Pettis on May 13, 2017, at UFC 211. However, on May 10, Cejudo pulled out of the fight with a hand injury and the bout was canceled.
Cejudo faced Wilson Reis on September 9, 2017, at UFC 215. He won the fight via TKO in the second round. This win also won Cejudo his first Performance of the Night bonus award.
A rescheduled fight with Pettis took place on December 2, 2017, at UFC 218. Cejudo won the fight by unanimous decision.
In November 2018, Cejudo revealed that he had signed a six-fight contract with UFC.
In the first defense of his UFC Flyweight Championship, Cejudo was initially scheduled to face UFC Bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw on January 26, 2019, at UFC 233. However, after that pay-per-view event was canceled, the fight was moved a week earlier to headline UFC Fight Night 143 on January 19, 2019. It was the first title fight to showcase the new UFC legacy belt. Cejudo won the fight via TKO just 32 seconds into the first round to retain his title. The win also earned Cejudo his second Performance of the Night bonus award.
Double champion
On April 9, 2019, USADA announced that Dillashaw had tested positive for erythropoietin in pre and post-fight screenings and had been suspended for two years. Cejudo faced Marlon Moraes on June 8, 2019 at UFC 238 for the vacant UFC Bantamweight Championship. He won the fight via TKO in the third round. This win made Cejudo the fourth fighter to hold championships simultaneously in two weight divisions in UFC, and earned him the Performance of the Night award. It was revealed later that Cejudo suffered a rolled ankle mere days before the fight, requiring therapy to even compete. In December 2019, Cejudo agreed to relinquish the UFC Flyweight title in order to focus on the bantamweight division. Cejudo became inactive until 2020 due to a shoulder injury.
Cejudo was scheduled to face José Aldo on May 9, 2020 at UFC 250. However, Aldo pulled out on April 8 due to visa issues. Cejudo faced a replacement in Dominick Cruz on May 9, 2020 at UFC 249. He won the fight via technical knockout in the second round.
During the post-fight interview Cejudo announced his retirement from professional fighting. The announcement was met with some skepticism, as various UFC commentators and fighters stated their opinion that Cejudo was using the announcement as a contract negotiation ploy. On May 24, the UFC officially vacated the UFC Bantamweight Title and removed Cejudo's name from their rankings, based on his retirement announcement.
Cejudo was scheduled to face Marlon Vera on August 19, 2023, at UFC 292. However, Cejudo withdrew in late June due to a shoulder injury, and was replaced by Pedro Munhoz.
Cejudo faced Merab Dvalishvili on February 17, 2024, at UFC 298. After three rounds, Cejudo was defeated via unanimous decision.
Cejudo faced Song Yadong in the main event on February 22, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 252. An accidental eyepoke by Song at the beginning of the fourth round rendered Cejudo unable to continue. Song won the fight by technical decision after the bout was stopped.
In his second retirement fight, Cejudo faced Payton Talbott on December 6, 2025 at UFC 323. He lost the fight via decision and announced his second retirement afterwards. He lost all four of his fights post-retirement. He got an immediate $50,000 bonus from UFC CEO Dana White after the bout.
Cejudo, along with his manager Ali Abdelaziz, fellow fighters Justin Gaethje and Colby Covington, and UFC President Dana White, all appeared at a rally for President Donald Trump in September 2020.
| + !No !Event !Fight !Date !Venue !City !PPV buys | ||||||
| 1. | UFC 238 | Cejudo vs. Moraes | June 8, 2019 | United Center | Chicago, Illinois, United States | Not Disclosed |
| 2. | UFC 288 | Sterling vs. Cejudo | May 6, 2023 | Prudential Center | Newark, New Jersey, United States | 200k-250k (per Aljamain Sterling) |
Tempe, Arizona
|-
|Loss
|42–11
|align=left| Tony Ramos
|style="font-size:88%"|8–10
|style="font-size:88%"|April 4, 2015
|style="font-size:88%"|2015 Agon V: Iowa against the World
|style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" |
[[Iowa City]], Iowa
|-
! style=background:white colspan=7 |
|-
|Loss
|42–10
|align=left| Nick Simmons
|style="font-size:88%"|0–3, 9–5, 2–5
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=3|April 21, 2012
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=3|2012 US Olympic Team Trials
|style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=3| Iowa City, Iowa
|-
|Win
|42–9
|align=left| Obe Blanc
|style="font-size:88%"|1–0, 2–0
|-
|Win
|41–9
|align=left| Earl Hall
|style="font-size:88%"| 1–1, 5–3
|-
! style=background:white colspan=7 |
|-
|Loss
|40–9
|align=left| Ghenadie Tulbea
|style="font-size:88%"|1–3, 2–6
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=3|November 26, 2011
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=3|2011 Henri Deglane Challenge
|style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=3| Nice, France
|-
|Win
|40–8
|align=left| Rodrigo Rodriguez
|style="font-size:88%"|2–0, 6–0
|-
|Win
|39–8
|align=left| Chakir Ansari
|style="font-size:88%"|4–0, 2– 2, 2–1
|-
! style=background:white colspan=7 |
|-
|Win
|38–8
|align=left| Danny Felix
|style="font-size:88%"|1–0, 1–0
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|October 28, 2011
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|2011 Sunkist International Open
|style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=4| Mesa, Arizona
|-
|Win
|37–8
|align=left| Jarrod Patterson
|style="font-size:88%"|4–0, 8–2
|-
|Win
|36–8
|align=left| Aso Palani
|style="font-size:88%"|2–0, 3–2
|-
|Win
|35–8
|align=left| Ben Kjar
|style="font-size:88%"|1–0, 1–0
|-
|Win
|34–8
|align=left| Rasul Mashezov
|style="font-size:88%"|2–0, 4–3
|style="font-size:88%"|May 5, 2011
|style="font-size:88%"|2011 Beat The Streets: USA vs. Russia
|style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" |
New York City, New York
|-
! style=background:white colspan=7 |
|-
|Win
|33–8
|align=left| Tomohiro Matsunaga
|style="font-size:88%"|2–2, 3–0
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|August 19, 2008
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|2008 Summer Olympics
|style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=4| Beijing, China
|-
|Win
|32–8
|align=left| Namig Sevdimov
|style="font-size:88%"|3–5, 3–2, 4–3
|-
|Win
|31–8
|align=left| Besarion Gochashvili
|style="font-size:88%"|1–3, 3–2, 3–0
|-
|Win
|30–8
|align=left| Radoslav Velikov
|style="font-size:88%"|0–1, 3–2, 4–3
|-
! style=background:white colspan=7 |
|-
|Win
|29–8
|align=left | Stephen Abas
|style="font-size:88%"|0–1, 3–0, 3–0
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5|June 15, 2008
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=3|2008 US Olympic Team Trials
|style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=5| Las Vegas, Nevada
|-
|Loss
|28–8
|align=left | Stephen Abas
|style="font-size:88%"|0–2, 3–6
|-
|Win
|28–7
|align=left | Stephen Abas
|style="font-size:88%"|3–2, 4–0
|-
|Win
|27–7
|align=left| Danny Felix
|style="font-size:88%"|1–0, 1–0
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=2|2008 US Olympic Team Trials Challenge Tournament
|-
|Win
|26–7
|align=left | Grant Nakamura
|style="font-size:88%"|5–0, 6–1
|-
! style=background:white colspan=7 |
|-
|Loss
|25–7
|align=left| Matt Azevedo
|style="font-size:88%"|Fall
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|April 26, 2008
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|2008 US Senior National Wrestling Championships
|style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=4| Las Vegas, Nevada
|-
|Win
|25–6
|align=left| Danny Felix
|style="font-size:88%"|1–0, 3–0
|-
|Win
|24–6
|align=left| Obe Blanc
|style="font-size:88%"|1–0, 3–0
|-
|Win
|23–6
|align=left| Kelly Martinez
|style="font-size:88%"|TF 7–0, 7–0
|-
! style=background:white colspan=7 |
|-
|Win
|22–6
|align=left| Andy Gonzalez
|style="font-size:88%"|Fall
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=3|March 2, 2008
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=3|2008 Pan American Wrestling Championships
|style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=3| Colorado, United States
|-
|Win
|21–6
|align=left| Vinicius Pedrosa
|style="font-size:88%"|TF 6–0, 7–0
|-
|Win
|20–6
|align=left| John Pineda
|style="font-size:88%"|2–1, 2–2
|-
! style=background:white colspan=7 |
|-
|Loss
|19–6
|align=left| Taghi Dadashi
|style="font-size:88%"|0–1, 0–4
| style="font-size:88%;"|September 17, 2007
| style="font-size:88%;"|2007 World Wrestling Championships
| style="text-align:left; font-size:88%;"| Baku, Azerbaijan
|-
! style=background:white colspan=7 |
|-
|Win
|19–5
|align=left| Andy Moreno
|style="font-size:88%"|N/A
|style="font-size:88%"|August 14, 2007
|style="font-size:88%"|2007 Pan American Games
|style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" |
Rio de Janeiro, [[Brazil]]
|-
! style=background:white colspan=7 |
|-
|Win
|18–5
|align=left | Matt Azevedo
|style="font-size:88%"|4–1, 1–0
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=2|June 10, 2007
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=2|2007 US World Team Trials
|style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=2| Las Vegas, Nevada
|-
|Win
|17–5
|align=left | Matt Azevedo
|style="font-size:88%"|3–4, 3–3, 2–0
|-
! style=background:white colspan=7 |
|-
|Win
|16–5
|align=left| Fredy Serrano
|style="font-size:88%"|N/A
|style="font-size:88%"|May 18, 2007
|style="font-size:88%"|2007 Pan American Championships
|style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" |
[[San Salvador]], [[El Salvador]]
|-
! style=background:white colspan=7 |
|-
|Win
|15–5
|align=left| Nick Simmons
|style="font-size:88%"|4– 4, 4–3, 5–0
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|April 7, 2007
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|2007 US Senior National Wrestling Championships
|style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=4| Las Vegas, Nevada
|-
|Win
|14–5
|align=left| Vic Moreno
|style="font-size:88%"|2–1, 1– 1, 2–1
|-
|Win
|13–5
|align=left| Patrick McCaffery
|style="font-size:88%"|1–0, 1–0
|-
|Win
|12–5
|align=left| Michael Martinez
|style="font-size:88%"|1–0, 3–0
|-
! style=background:white colspan=7 |
|-
|Loss
|11–5
|align=left| Erkin Tadzhimetov
|style="font-size:88%"|1–4, 0–1
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=2|October 14, 2006
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=2|2006 Sunkist International Open
|style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=2| Arizona, United States
|-
|Win
|11–4
|align=left| Jamie Macari
|style="font-size:88%"|2–2, 6–0
|-
! style=background:white colspan=7 |
|-
|Loss
|10–4
|align=left | Sammie Henson
|style="font-size:88%"|0–2, 2–3
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|June 28, 2006
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=2|2006 US World Team Trials
|style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=4| Iowa, United States
|-
|Loss
|10–3
|align=left | Sammie Henson
|style="font-size:88%"|3–1, 1–3, 0–2
|-
|Win
|10–2
|align=left| Luke Eustice
|style="font-size:88%"|2–4, 3–2, 2–2
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=2|2006 US World Team Trials Challenge Tournament
|-
|Win
|9–2
|align=left | Franklin Gómez
|style="font-size:88%"|0–1, 2–1, 3–1
|-
! style=background:white colspan=7 |
|-
|Win
|8–2
|align=left| Luis Ibáñez
|style="font-size:88%"|N/A
|style="font-size:88%"|May 31, 2006
|style="font-size:88%"|2006 Pan American Championships
|style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" |
Rio de Janeiro, [[Brazil]]
|-
! style=background:white colspan=7 |
|-
|Win
|7–2
|align=left| Matt Azevedo
|style="font-size:88%"|0–1, 2–1, 4–2
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|April 15, 2006
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|2006 US Senior National Wrestling Championships
|style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=4| Las Vegas, Nevada
|-
|Win
|6–2
|align=left| Luke Eustice
|style="font-size:88%"| 2–2, 3–1
|-
|Win
|5–2
|align=left| Mark Mcknight
|style="font-size:88%"| 2–2, 1–1
|-
|Win
|4–2
|align=left| Grant Nakamura
|style="font-size:88%"|7–0, 2–1
|-
! style=background:white colspan=7 |
|-
|Win
|3–2
|align=left| Jeremy Mendoza
|style="font-size:88%"|1–0, 4–0
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5|October 23, 2005
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5|2005 Sunkist International Open
|style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=5| Arizona, United States
|-
|Loss
|2–2
|align=left| Matt Azevedo
|style="font-size:88%"|0–2, 1–0, 2–4
|-
|Loss
|2–1
|align=left| Luke Eustice
|style="font-size:88%"|0–3, 0–1
|-
|Win
|2–0
|align=left| Tanner Gardner
|style="font-size:88%"|1–6, 7–0, 5–3
|-
|Win
|1–0
|align=left| Jason Powell
|style="font-size:88%"|4–0, 3–4, 8–2
|-
|-
|
|