Former two-division UFC champion and Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo is fighting bantamweight wunderkind Payton Talbott at UFC 323 this weekend in Las Vegas and no longer competes in the flyweight division,
so why is he still hung up on former 125-pound titleholder Brandon Moreno?
“I saw the interview,” Moreno said at the UFC 323 media day. “I thought that rivalry was dead, but the guy is still thinking of me. That’s crazy. In the past, we had our bad blood, and right now I’m just super focused on fighting in the flyweight division, get the title back. I don’t think he’s going to make that cut again so that’s it. I wish him all the success in his fight against Payton Talbott because Payton is an incredible opponent. I don’t know what his real mentality against me is because the people get cameras in their faces, and everything changes.”
Moreno will join Cejudo on the UFC 323 main card in a flyweight scrap against Tatsuro Taira.
“I don’t think we really had a chance to really sit down and actually [talk]. maybe the day will come,” Cejudo told reporters at the UFC 323 media day. “I’ve always thought that rivalry, that fight would have been great. You know, he denied me a couple times — even before I was champion. When everything happened between us, I wanted to fight him, the UFC was trying to make that fight but he chose Sergio Pettis in Mexico City. I went up to him in person at the UFC retreat at that time and I said, ‘Hey, man, let’s fight.‘ As a big brother. That’s kind of how I felt to him. I think we ended in the most political way. We f—king fight, because I was still a bit heated. But no, it’s good bro. He’s probably right. Dude, I’m dehydrated, I’m hungry, and I’m over it. Sorry, Brandon.”
“Triple C” issues double apology.
LIVE! Stream UFC 323 On ESPN+
Don’t miss a single second of face-punching action!
Where to Buy:
To see who else is fighting at UFC 323 on Dec. 6 in “Sin City” click here.
