Former two-division champion Henry Cejudo is determined to return to the top of the UFC bantamweight division. With a main event bout against Song Yadong at UFC Seattle on February 22, 2025, he sees this as the first step in his final push for the title. However, for Cejudo, winning the belt wouldn’t be complete without a rematch against reigning champion Merab Dvalishvili.

Cejudo: “This is my last run”

After taking a three-year hiatus from MMA, Henry Cejudo returned to competition in May 2023 but has since suffered back-to-back losses. First, he fell to Aljamain Sterling by split decision, followed by a unanimous decision loss to Merab Dvalishvili in February 2024. Despite those setbacks, the 38-year-old is not ready to give up.

“100 percent [going for the title], that’s what it’s always about,” Cejudo told MMA Fighting. “If it wasn’t about that, for sure I wouldn’t be fighting. This is the last run. I just turned 38, but age is not a factor. It’s about my performances. Can I display my art inside the octagon in front of 25,000 people? That’s where it gets real for me.”

No Choice But to Accept the Song Yadong Fight

Coming off two consecutive losses, Cejudo no longer has the luxury of picking his opponents. When the UFC offered him a fight against Song Yadong, he had no other option but to accept.

“As a champion, you can negotiate matchups and purses, but when you don’t have the belt, you take what they give you,” Cejudo explained. “I like the stylistic matchup with Song. He’s powerful, explosive, and a dangerous counter-striker, but I see flaws that I plan to exploit on February 22.”

Initially, Cejudo wasn’t thrilled about the matchup and had a dispute with UFC Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell. However, once he accepted the fight, he realized it was the right move.

“After a while, I said, give me five rounds with him. If I’m really chasing this title, then let’s make it a main event,” Cejudo recalled.

Targeting a Rematch With Merab Dvalishvili

While Cejudo’s primary goal is to reclaim the bantamweight title, a rematch with Merab Dvalishvili would make it even more special. Since defeating Cejudo, Dvalishvili has continued his dominance, capturing the belt from Sean O’Malley and defending it in a thrilling fight against Umar Nurmagomedov.

“100 percent. Hell yeah,” Cejudo said about fighting Dvalishvili again. “Winning is great, but even better than winning is getting payback. Like revenge. When I lost my first fight against Demetrious Johnson and then came back and won, that meant a lot to me.”

Cejudo acknowledges Dvalishvili’s impressive accomplishments, including his current 12-fight win streak. He believes the Georgian’s most remarkable victory came against Umar Nurmagomedov.

“Merab is the real deal,” he said. “When you can defeat the next generation that’s supposed to be the future and actually outwork him, that means a lot.”

Fight Details and Broadcast Information

UFC Seattle will take place on February 22, 2025, at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. The event will stream exclusively on ESPN+ in the U.S., with the prelims starting at 6:00 PM ET (12:00 AM CET) and the main card at 9:00 PM ET (3:00 AM CET).

Source: MMAnytt.se

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