/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69919421/1148664729.0.jpg)
This past Saturday, Alexander Volkanovski successfully defended his featherweight title against Brian Ortega at UFC 266, earning a unanimous decision in one of the best fights of the year, and one of the most decorated athletes in UFC history is hoping he will be next in line for the champ..
After the UFC 266 main event, Olympic gold medalist and former UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo immediately jumped on Twitter to call for a shot at Volkanovski, who brushed off “the little germ” in the post-fight press conference. However, Cejudo has not deterred by Volkanovski’s response, and says that it’s not Volkanovski who is the challenge in the first place, it’s UFC President Dana White.
“Alexander the Average, this overgrown midget,” Cejudo told TMZ Sports. “This is the thing, it’s not even a challenge against this ugly face. It’s really a challenge against Dana White. How are you gonna doubt an Olympic champ, dude? Olympic champ, how are you gonna doubt a flyweight champ and a two-division champ in the UFC? It’s crazy. Anybody that would doubt me is freaking crazy. Let me go up, man.”
Cejudo retired from MMA last year following his bantamweight title defense over Dominick Cruz at UFC 249, however, he has remained interested in returning for a shot at the featherweight belt, and immortality. There has never been a three-division champion in UFC history, and though Cejudo walked away in part because of pay dispute, the chance to do something never done before has held a powerful sway over “Triple C,” and so he made a heartfelt appeal to Dana White to give him the opportunity.
“Not only do I believe that I can beat him, I know I can stop him,” Cejudo said. “As much as I saw good things from Volkanovski, there are still a lot of holes. I believe my height would be problem for him, because he is a couple inches taller than me. My speed, my wrestling, my experience, I’ve been in there against the best. Okay, Alexander the Average had a great performance, it was a great fight, I just believe that I have the “It” factor to beat this dude. Not only to beat this dude, but to stop him.
“Allow me to make history. If he’s that good, allow him to shut me up. Dana White, if you’re listening, this is a real message. Forget the cringe, forget the persona, this is straight up me: I am the greatest combat athlete of all time and I promise you, if you give me the opportunity, I will knock this dude out in no less than three rounds.”
For his part, Volkanovski seems open to the idea of facing Cejudo, admitting that the former two-division champion does not “deserve” a title shot but saying that because he wants to fight more often than he has been able to the past year, there could be an opportunity for Cejudo in the near future. And even though he has been retired for the past 14 months, Cejudo says he can be ready to go in no time. In fact, given where his weight is currently, “Triple C” says featherweight would be ideal to his return.
“I’m 165 pounds, believe it or not. 145 would fit me perfect,” Cejudo concluded. “Again, if anybody doubts this mind, if you think I won the Olympics because I got lucky or the two belts, hate the cringe, whatever the hell, but I’m a freaking competitor and I just want a challenge. I want a shot at legacy. I want a shot to be the first UFC triple champ, to win three belts on top of my Olympic gold medal. That’s it.”
TOP STORIES
Bet. Tyron Woodley shows off his ‘I love Jake Paul’ tattoo on his middle finger, Paul responds.
Surgery. Aljamain Sterling ‘struggling’ in training following neck surgery, wanted to push back Petr Yan rematch
Fights. Alexander Volkanovski responds to post-UFC 266 tweets from Henry Cejudo, Conor McGregor.
Opinion. Coach Eugene Bareman thinks Nick Diaz ‘should never have been in there’ at UFC 266.
Move. Israel Adesanya plans move to United States to resume career after promise to ‘never’ fight in New Zealand again.
Target. Anderson Silva wants Floyd Mayweather next, addresses possible Jake Paul, Logan Paul fights.
VIDEO STEW
The MMA Hour.
Woodley on his tattoo.
Israel Adesanya’s reaction to Brian Ortega’s sub attempts is so pure.
Free fights.
LISTEN UP
The Co-Main Event. Discussing UFC 266 and Jon Jones latest legal troubles.
Jack Slack. Discussing UFC 266 and ONE Championship.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Beef.
Anyone who has a tattoo knows that’s not a tattoo.
— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) September 27, 2021
What a dork. https://t.co/tO7nxKuiAW
Keep my name out your mouth. Name aint dick. I told you once. you haven't fought in a century. you are a spectator and fan now. just watch buy event tshirts https://t.co/8aIElgViHp
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) September 27, 2021
See... https://t.co/tO7nxKLTsu pic.twitter.com/M4XBaDdro9
— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) September 27, 2021
you were saying? https://t.co/PPdaoLPeNb pic.twitter.com/dppRsFBsKo
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) September 27, 2021
So you left out the ‘LOVE’ part, and that’s written in pen, @TWooodley? Well played.
— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) September 27, 2021
It looks like a tattoo your friend did when you were both drunk.
An embarrassing tattoo is one thing, but a bad embarrassing tattoo is a whole other. ♂️ https://t.co/xR7I7ObQQy
your ufc career is embarrassing. You claim to fame is you got stomped by GSP and didn't die. everything was by design. i'll keep setting trends while you tweet https://t.co/YA0qPwb68y pic.twitter.com/iKpiBmZG2Q
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) September 27, 2021
You’re trending because you’ve got @jakepaul tattooed on your finger.
— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) September 27, 2021
Well done.
Congratulations on your championship success. I remember the crowds booing in appreciation as you wore your heel out against the fence, backing up and avoiding the fight. https://t.co/qcXljcDx6r
Belt and titles. Things you dreamed of. They cheered as you were carried out on a stretcher. Champs now were in diapers last time you fought. Keep living your dream on the bag in your garage. From Outlaw to Uber Black driver https://t.co/WduPYoUSV7
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) September 27, 2021
We’re the same age, you fool. It’s just that I was competing in the UFC a bit earlier, during the reign of the greatest welterweight champion of all time.
— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) September 27, 2021
You came after. https://t.co/UPYOqKuIzg
Other responses.
"Daaaamn homie. In UFC you was the maaaan homie."
— MVP (@The305MVP) September 27, 2021
https://t.co/CPmnGEd38w
♂️ ♂️ ♂️ ♂️ ♂️ https://t.co/vg83G89tr3
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) September 27, 2021
Wow. This is sad. you’re his bitch now @TWooodley pic.twitter.com/KXAHf6IfHa
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) September 27, 2021
I’ve seen some of the tattoos y’all have PAID FOR.
— Nathan Quarry (@NateRockQuarry) September 27, 2021
Don’t pretend for $2,000,000 you wouldn’t Mike Tyson that across your face. pic.twitter.com/ACm2wCdlUT
Brotherly love.
Oscar De La Hoya.
That’s all you got @danawhite ? You’re accusing me of FAKING a virus that killed almost 700,000 Americans to avoid a fight?? You pathetic piece of shit you’ve never even laced up the gloves. And you completely ignored my original point I made about UNDERPAYING YOUR FIGHTERS
— Oscar De La Hoya (@OscarDeLaHoya) September 28, 2021
The champ.
Beauty will save the world ! ❤️ @MonsterEnergy pic.twitter.com/tW12DQfIsG
— Valentina Shevchenko (@BulletValentina) September 27, 2021
I want to see Nick Diaz fight again
— KAMARU USMAN (@USMAN84kg) September 27, 2021
Justin, Dustin, Tony, Beniel, Hooker, Chandler or Floyd Mayweather., doesn’t matter, Oct 30 I’ll be in AbuDhabi @ufc @seanshelby @AliAbdelaziz00 @Rizvan_RM
— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) September 27, 2021
Congratulations are in order for Travis Browne and Ronda Rousey.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Kayla Harrison (11-0) vs. Taylor Guardado (3-1); PFL Championship, Oct. 27.
Magomed Magomedkerimov (29-5) vs. Ray Cooper III (23-7-1); PFL Championship, Oct. 27.
Claressa Shields (1-0) vs. Abigail Montes (2-0); PFL Championship, Oct. 27.
Movlid Khabulaev (18-0-1) vs. Chris Wade (20-6); PFL Championship, Oct. 27.
B. Cappelozza (13-5) vs. Ante Delija (19-4); PFL Championship, Oct. 27.
Antonio Carlos Junior (12-5) vs. Marthin Hamlet (8-2); PFL Championship, Oct. 27.
Loik Radzhabov (15-3-1) vs. Raush Manflo (14-3); PFL Championship, Oct. 27.
Omari Akhmedov (21-6-1) vs. Jordan Young (11-2); PFL Championship, Oct. 27.
Don Madge (9-3-1) vs. Nathan Williams (13-7); PFL Championship, Oct. 27.
Jose Aldo (30-7) vs. Rob Font (19-4); UFC Fight Night, Dec. 4.
Derek Brunson (23-7) vs. Jared Cannonier (14-5); UFC 270, Jan. 22.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Thanks for reading and see y’all tomorrow.
EXIT POLL
Poll
Who wins this weekend?
This poll is closed
-
77%
Aspen Ladd
-
22%
Macy Chiasson
If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @JedKMeshew on Twitter and let him know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram and like us on Facebook.