Is Henry Cejudo truly making his ‘last stand’ in the Octagon, or is something else – like financial need – driving his return? Dominick Cruz, never one to mince words, certainly has his own theories about the former champion’s motives as Cejudo prepares for what’s being billed as his final fight against rising star Payton Talbott at UFC 323 on December 6th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The event will be broadcast on ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN2/ESPN+/Disney+/FX, so mark your calendars!
Cruz, a former opponent of Cejudo, couldn’t resist taking a few playful jabs at “Triple C” while offering his analysis of the upcoming bout. He pointedly reminded everyone that Cejudo had already retired once before, specifically after their own clash back in May 2020. “He already did that after he fought me,” Cruz told MMA Junkie, adding fuel to the fire. “And then I fought two more times when I would have rematched him, but he gets broke. So he’s probably broke and he’s fighting again. I think he needs the money.” Ouch! Could Cruz be right? Is Cejudo’s return fueled by necessity rather than pure competitive fire?
But here’s where it gets controversial… While Cruz’s comments might sting, he actually sees Talbott as a potentially favorable matchup for Cejudo. That’s right! Despite the trash talk, Cruz acknowledges Cejudo’s skills and believes he can win. However, he also expressed concerns about Cejudo’s fight strategy. “Talbott’s good, he’s a real threat,” Cruz conceded. “As long as Henry mixes in his wrestling – if he wrestled as much as Merab Dvalishvili does, which he has the tools to do so, I think he would do great against Talbott, but I don’t know if he will. I think he might try to stand up with him.”
And this is the part most people miss… Cruz emphasizes that Cejudo’s path to victory hinges on his wrestling prowess. He firmly believes that Cejudo possesses the ability to dominate Talbott on the ground. “He’s good enough to outwrestle Talbott for three rounds and shut him down. Definitely, no doubt in my mind,” Cruz stated emphatically. But if Cejudo chooses to engage in a primarily striking battle, Cruz predicts a much tougher night. “But if he strikes with him mostly like he’s been doing, I think Talbott will create a lot of problems for him if he doesn’t wrestle.” So, it all boils down to Cejudo’s game plan.
What do you think? Will Cejudo listen to Cruz’s advice and utilize his wrestling skills to neutralize Talbott’s striking? Or will he opt for a stand-up war, potentially playing into Talbott’s strengths? And more importantly, do you believe Cruz’s assessment of Cejudo’s financial situation is accurate, or is it simply a case of playful trash talk between rivals? Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below! Don’t forget to check out Dominick Cruz’s full appearance on “The Bohnfire” podcast with MMA Junkie senior reporter Mike Bohn for even more insights ahead of UFC 323! You can find the interview on YouTube.