Two-division UFC champ Henry Cejudo asks for ‘heavyweight money,’ talks future move to 145

Bloodyelbow.com

Henry Cejudo wants a raise after his historic title win at UFC 238.

Cejudo defeated Marlon Moraes by third-round TKO in the pay-per-view main event on Saturday night in Chicago. The fight was for the vacant UFC bantamweight title. Cejudo entered the bout already the UFC flyweight champion, becoming the fourth fighter to hold two titles simultaneously and the seventh to win titles in two divisions in company history.

Following his upset win over Moraes, Cejudo said he has a “hit list” — but more importantly, wants to start making a little more money than what his current contract pays.

“I want to start getting paid,” Cejudo said in his post-fight interview. “I want to start making heavyweight money.”

Cejudo called out three bantamweights — two of which are former UFC champions, and the other is a former WEC champ and UFC Hall of Famer. None of them, however, are seemingly in the current title picture at 135 pounds.

“I’m gonna give you guys that list right now, because I’m a prize fighter,” Cejudo said. “For all you 135-pounders, I’m gonna call out people personally: Dominick Cruz, Cody Garbrandt, Urijah Faber.”

Cruz has not fought since he lost the belt to Garbrandt in 2016. He has battled a number of injuries since then. Garbrandt is riding a three-fight skid. And 40-year-old Faber hasn’t fought since 2016, when he retired. Faber recently announced he is coming back to the sport and is booked for a fight against prospect Ricky Simon in July.

Cejudo also said he would like to one day fight at featherweight, the division currently reigned by Max Holloway.

“At 145 pounds — I would eventually like to go up and solidify another belt, too,” Cejudo said.

The win over Moraes extended Cejudo’s winning streak to five in a row. He won the flyweight title last summer with a split-decision over longtime champ Demetrious Johnson. He defended it for the first time against then-bantamweight champ T.J. Dillashaw in January, finishing him less than a minute into the first round. Dillashaw tested positive for EPO after the bout, leading to the vacant title bout between Cejudo and Moraes.

Cejudo has only lost to Johnson, whom he challenged for the title in 2016 when he was still rather young in his UFC career, and longtime top flyweight contender Joseph Benavidez.