Henry Cejudo stayed unbeaten at UFC 185, scoring a unanimous decision victory over Chris Cariaso in his debut as a flyweight, and appears to have put a target on his back.
Cejudo is an Olympic gold medalist who improved to 8-0 as a mixed martial artist with a win Saturday, and former No. 1 flyweight Jussier Formiga wants him as his next opponent inside the Octagon.
"I watched him fight Cariaso, and I believe it would be a big fight and a big opportunity for me to fight an Olympic champion," Formiga told MMAFighting.com. "It would be a great fight, no doubt about it.
"I want to fight in late May of early June. I can’t wait to get back in there. I’m getting crazy without fights [laughs]. I will fight whoever they want. I will be ready for anyone. I just want to get back in there and fight."
Formiga, who beat Cariaso by decision in 2013, went 2-0 in 2014 with wins over Scott Jorgensen and Zach Makovsky, but hasn’t fought since a knee injury stopped him from fighting John Moraga in December.
The Nova Uniao flyweight was impressed by Cejudo’s performance, but believes in his grappling skills against the wrestler.
"(Cejudo) had a great performance," Formiga said. "He fought well and dominated Cariaso, but I already expected he would do that to Cariaso after I watched (Cejudo’s) first fight in the UFC. The only guys that grappled with me were Cariaso and Zach Makovsky, and I did well against both of them. I can grapple with anyone in this division and do fine, no doubt.
"Oh, Scott (Jorgensen) also went to the ground with me. And we all saw what happened [laughs]."
Cejudo aims to get back in action at UFC 188 in Mexico City, and Formiga, who returned to training in February and was cleared to spar earlier this month, is down to fight on June 13.
"Why not?" Formiga said of fighting in Mexico. "I’m healthy, and that would be great."