Henry Cejudo Stuns TJ Dillashaw with 32-Second TKO in First Round to Defend Flyweight Title
Henry Cejudo promised a first round knockout and that’s exactly what he delivered in his champion versus champion showdown against TJ Dillashaw on Saturday night in Brooklyn.
Dillashaw, who came down from 135 pounds for the opportunity to win a second UFC title, never really got started in the fight as he was defending a flurry of strikes from Cejudo almost as quickly as the action got started.
Cejudo stormed across the cage and started winging quick combinations trying to overwhelm Dillashaw and it definitely seemed to catch the bantamweight champion off guard.
During the initial exchange, Cejudo appeared to stun Dillashaw with one of his punches that backed him up as he continued to search for his footing in the fight.
That’s when Cejudo connected with a huge head kick that was blocked but still managed to wobble Dillashaw who was on rubber legs immediately after the shot landed.
Cejudo went for the kill and ended up connected with a massive right hand that blasted Dillashaw behind the ear, sending him face first to the canvas.
Cejudo followed up with a few more unanswered shots and the referee swooped into stop the contest with the end coming at just 32 seconds into the first round.
HENRY CEJUDO!!!!!!!
Messaged. Sent. WOW!!!!! #UFCBrooklyn @HenryCejudo pic.twitter.com/5gx41CdUOM
— UFC (@ufc) January 20, 2019
Immediately after the fight was stopped, Dillashaw got up complaining to the referee that he wasn’t hurt and could have continued but the damage was done and his bid to become a two division champion was over.
“I’ve busted my butt my whole life. I was able to beat one of the greatest of all time. It’s surreal,” Cejudo said after the win. “I knew he was hurt. I caught him with that head kick and felt him wobble. The rest was history.”
UNBELIEVABLE!!
The 5th fastest stoppage in UFC history! #UFCBrooklyn @HenryCejudo pic.twitter.com/oPIaPZZs52
— UFC (@ufc) January 20, 2019
Cejudo said going into the fight that he was competing for the entire flyweight division after rumors for the past few months that the UFC was looking to get rid of the weight class.
The 2008 Olympic gold medalist got the job done in emphatic fashion but now it appears even he’s ready to abandon the 125-pound division as he immediately offered Dillashaw a rematch — this time with the bantamweight title on the line.
“TJ, we can do it again,” Cejudo shouted. “This time we’ll do it at 135 pounds. I’ll give you another shot at 135 pounds.”
For his part, Dillashaw disagreed with the stoppage both immediately after the fight and at the post fight press conference.
“I did get clipped with a right hand behind the ear as I threw my own. You could feel it, but I’m there the entire time,” Dillashaw said following the loss. “It sucks when something’s taken from you, not when you’re actually beat. I would love to get beat. Congrats to Henry Cejudo, good job, but you didn’t beat me.
“I didn’t lose. It was bulls—t”
