UPDATE: Olympic champion Cejudo beats Formiga on UFC Fight Night in Monterrey, Mexico
Share:
by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
MONTERREY, Mexico – 2008 Olympic freestyle wrestling champion Henry Cejudo remained unbeaten in his Mixed Martial Arts career with a split decision victory against Jussier Formiga at Flyweight on UFC Fight Night, which aired live on FOX Sports 1.
The scorecard went 30-27 Cejudo, 29-28 Formiga and 30-27 Cejudo. It was a bruising fight, mostly on the feet, with both fighters taking some shots. Cejudo showed off a large welt on his shin during his post-fight interview on FOX Sports 1.
“I hurt him in the clinch. He came prepared. He came in hard. I felt I hurt the (leg) bone a bit, but everything else is pretty good,” said Cejudo in his post-fight interview.
The first round was mostly on the feet, with both athletes doing a lot of boxing. Cejudo had an edge in punches, knees and kicks. In the closing seconds of the round, Cejudo scored a clean takedown to finish strong.
The second round was contested entirely on the feet, as both athletes traded punches, kicks and knees from the clinch. Cejudo was a bit more aggressive, but both were able to get in some clean shots.
The third round was similar to the others, with Cejudo more aggressive and in control of the clinches. He got Formiga pushed into the fence a few times, getting a high single leg position he could not complete.
Cejudo, 28, who fights as “The Messenger,” now has a 10-0 record. Formiga dropped to an 18-4 record. Formiga came into the fight ranked No. 3 in the UFC, while Cejudo held a No. 5 ranking.
Cejudo is on a quest to become the first Olympic gold medalist to win a UFC championship. Only two other Olympic champions have fought in the UFC, wrestlers Kevin Jackson and Mark Schultz, but neither were able to become UFC champion.
Cejudo was the youngest U.S. Olympic wrestling champion at 21, when he captured his gold medal at the Beijing Games. He was also a member of the 2007 U.S. World Team, and a 2006 Junior World silver medalist.
Cejudo, a Mexican-American, was the favorite of the Mexican fans. Formiga is a native of Brazil. Cejudo finished his post-fight interview speaking in Spanish to the Mexican crowd.
It is believed that the winner of this fight could earn a title shot against at UFC Flyweight champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, who is No. 2 in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings. Johnson, who is currently 22-2-1, was a Washington state wrestling medalist in high school.
Cejudo said that he was deserving of a title shot against Johnson, who was in the crowd Octagon-side.
“I think with Demetrious, he’s somebody that I have to display every art that I have. And I haven’t really (done that) in the UFC. I’ve really just been standing up with guys. I think with somebody of his caliber, I’m going to have to use every tool and weapon that I have. And I do believe I’m the next in line to get the shot. I mean, who else is next?,” said Cejudo.
In the Co-Main event, Ricardo Lamas, a Div. III All-American for Elmhurst College, won a featherweight bout against Diego Sanchez, earning a unanimous decision, which was 30-27 on all three cards.
Lamas had the edge in takedowns in the first two rounds. He had an especially strong second round which featured very powerful kicks and punches. The third round was even early, but Lamas took control midway through the fight, when Sanchez hobbled with a leg injury. Lamas opened up a nasty cut on Sanchez with his strikes.
Lamas was sixth in the 2005 Div. III Nationals at 157 pounds where he was coached by NCAA champion and past World Team member Steve Marianetti. Lamas dedicated the fight to his new son.
Lamas came in with a No. 4 UFC ranking, and his record improved to 16-4. Sanchez’ record dropped to 25-8.
Another U.S. wrestler, Scott Jorgensen, who starred for Boise State, was beaten by Alejandro Perez in a preliminary bantamweight fight, a second round TKO in 4:26.
Jorgensen had the edge in the first round, scoring a double leg takedown against fence on Perez and being more aggressive throughout. Late in that period, Perez kicked Jorgensen’s leg, which caused Jorgensen to limp to the corner.
In the second round, Jorgensen’s mobility was greatly reduced, limping heavily and unable to put weight on his injured leg. Perez was able to score a number of strikes, as Jorgensen showed tremendous courage by continuing to battle on. Perez knocked Jorgensen to the mat late in the round, and the fight was stopped at the 4:26 mark of the second round.
Jorgensen’s record dropped to 15-13, while Perez improved his record to 17-6.
An NJCAA Junior College All-American from Pima CC in Arizona, Efrain Escudero, was defeated in the first match of the Main Card, losing to Leandro Silva in a Lightweight bout. Silva received a unanimous decision, 29-28 on all three cards. Silva won the first round, but Escudero was dominant in the second. Silva controlled the deciding third round to win on all three cards.
Escudero was seventh in the 2007 NJCAA Junior College Nationals. His record dropped to 24-10, while Silva improved to 19-2-1.
The Main Event was a welterweight battle between Neil Magny and Kelvin Gastelum, an exciting fight which went to Magny in a split decision. Magny was ahead 48-47 on two of the cards, while Gastelum won the other 48-47.
The early rounds went to Magny, who scored more takedowns and was a more active and effective striker. Gastelum was dominant in the fourth round, knocking Magny down twice and getting him in danger. Gastelum also held the edge in the fifth round, but ended up coming up just short.
UFC FIGHT NIGHT
At Monterrey, Mexico
Main Card
Main Event - Welterweight - Neil Magny dec. Kelvin Gastelum, split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47)
Co-Main Event - Featherweight - Ricardo Lamas dec. Diego Sanchez, unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Flyweight -. Henry Cejudo dec. Jussier Formiga, Split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
Welterweight - Erick Montano dec. Enrique Marin. Split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Lightweight - Enrique Barzola dec. Horacio Gutierrez, unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
Lightweight - Leandro Silva dec. Efrain Escudero, unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Preliminaries results
Bantamweight - Erik Perez dec. Taylor Lapilus, unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Welterweight - Bartosz Fabinski dec. Hector Urbina, unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Bantamweight - Alejandro Perez TKO Scott Jorgensen, Round two, 4:26
Featherweight - Andre Fili knockout Gabriel Benitez, Round one, 3:13
Welterweight - Alvaro Herrera TKO over Vernon Ramos, Round one, 0:30
Lightweight - Polo Reyes knockout Cesar Arzamendia, Round one, 3:42
Lightweight - Michel Prazeres dec. Valmir Lazaro, split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
The scorecard went 30-27 Cejudo, 29-28 Formiga and 30-27 Cejudo. It was a bruising fight, mostly on the feet, with both fighters taking some shots. Cejudo showed off a large welt on his shin during his post-fight interview on FOX Sports 1.
“I hurt him in the clinch. He came prepared. He came in hard. I felt I hurt the (leg) bone a bit, but everything else is pretty good,” said Cejudo in his post-fight interview.
The first round was mostly on the feet, with both athletes doing a lot of boxing. Cejudo had an edge in punches, knees and kicks. In the closing seconds of the round, Cejudo scored a clean takedown to finish strong.
The second round was contested entirely on the feet, as both athletes traded punches, kicks and knees from the clinch. Cejudo was a bit more aggressive, but both were able to get in some clean shots.
The third round was similar to the others, with Cejudo more aggressive and in control of the clinches. He got Formiga pushed into the fence a few times, getting a high single leg position he could not complete.
Cejudo, 28, who fights as “The Messenger,” now has a 10-0 record. Formiga dropped to an 18-4 record. Formiga came into the fight ranked No. 3 in the UFC, while Cejudo held a No. 5 ranking.
Cejudo is on a quest to become the first Olympic gold medalist to win a UFC championship. Only two other Olympic champions have fought in the UFC, wrestlers Kevin Jackson and Mark Schultz, but neither were able to become UFC champion.
Cejudo was the youngest U.S. Olympic wrestling champion at 21, when he captured his gold medal at the Beijing Games. He was also a member of the 2007 U.S. World Team, and a 2006 Junior World silver medalist.
Cejudo, a Mexican-American, was the favorite of the Mexican fans. Formiga is a native of Brazil. Cejudo finished his post-fight interview speaking in Spanish to the Mexican crowd.
It is believed that the winner of this fight could earn a title shot against at UFC Flyweight champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, who is No. 2 in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings. Johnson, who is currently 22-2-1, was a Washington state wrestling medalist in high school.
Cejudo said that he was deserving of a title shot against Johnson, who was in the crowd Octagon-side.
“I think with Demetrious, he’s somebody that I have to display every art that I have. And I haven’t really (done that) in the UFC. I’ve really just been standing up with guys. I think with somebody of his caliber, I’m going to have to use every tool and weapon that I have. And I do believe I’m the next in line to get the shot. I mean, who else is next?,” said Cejudo.
In the Co-Main event, Ricardo Lamas, a Div. III All-American for Elmhurst College, won a featherweight bout against Diego Sanchez, earning a unanimous decision, which was 30-27 on all three cards.
Lamas had the edge in takedowns in the first two rounds. He had an especially strong second round which featured very powerful kicks and punches. The third round was even early, but Lamas took control midway through the fight, when Sanchez hobbled with a leg injury. Lamas opened up a nasty cut on Sanchez with his strikes.
Lamas was sixth in the 2005 Div. III Nationals at 157 pounds where he was coached by NCAA champion and past World Team member Steve Marianetti. Lamas dedicated the fight to his new son.
Lamas came in with a No. 4 UFC ranking, and his record improved to 16-4. Sanchez’ record dropped to 25-8.
Another U.S. wrestler, Scott Jorgensen, who starred for Boise State, was beaten by Alejandro Perez in a preliminary bantamweight fight, a second round TKO in 4:26.
Jorgensen had the edge in the first round, scoring a double leg takedown against fence on Perez and being more aggressive throughout. Late in that period, Perez kicked Jorgensen’s leg, which caused Jorgensen to limp to the corner.
In the second round, Jorgensen’s mobility was greatly reduced, limping heavily and unable to put weight on his injured leg. Perez was able to score a number of strikes, as Jorgensen showed tremendous courage by continuing to battle on. Perez knocked Jorgensen to the mat late in the round, and the fight was stopped at the 4:26 mark of the second round.
Jorgensen’s record dropped to 15-13, while Perez improved his record to 17-6.
An NJCAA Junior College All-American from Pima CC in Arizona, Efrain Escudero, was defeated in the first match of the Main Card, losing to Leandro Silva in a Lightweight bout. Silva received a unanimous decision, 29-28 on all three cards. Silva won the first round, but Escudero was dominant in the second. Silva controlled the deciding third round to win on all three cards.
Escudero was seventh in the 2007 NJCAA Junior College Nationals. His record dropped to 24-10, while Silva improved to 19-2-1.
The Main Event was a welterweight battle between Neil Magny and Kelvin Gastelum, an exciting fight which went to Magny in a split decision. Magny was ahead 48-47 on two of the cards, while Gastelum won the other 48-47.
The early rounds went to Magny, who scored more takedowns and was a more active and effective striker. Gastelum was dominant in the fourth round, knocking Magny down twice and getting him in danger. Gastelum also held the edge in the fifth round, but ended up coming up just short.
UFC FIGHT NIGHT
At Monterrey, Mexico
Main Card
Main Event - Welterweight - Neil Magny dec. Kelvin Gastelum, split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47)
Co-Main Event - Featherweight - Ricardo Lamas dec. Diego Sanchez, unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Flyweight -. Henry Cejudo dec. Jussier Formiga, Split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
Welterweight - Erick Montano dec. Enrique Marin. Split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Lightweight - Enrique Barzola dec. Horacio Gutierrez, unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
Lightweight - Leandro Silva dec. Efrain Escudero, unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Preliminaries results
Bantamweight - Erik Perez dec. Taylor Lapilus, unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Welterweight - Bartosz Fabinski dec. Hector Urbina, unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Bantamweight - Alejandro Perez TKO Scott Jorgensen, Round two, 4:26
Featherweight - Andre Fili knockout Gabriel Benitez, Round one, 3:13
Welterweight - Alvaro Herrera TKO over Vernon Ramos, Round one, 0:30
Lightweight - Polo Reyes knockout Cesar Arzamendia, Round one, 3:42
Lightweight - Michel Prazeres dec. Valmir Lazaro, split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Read More#
Kilty, Welker win gold, Nette a silver and Gallegos a bronze & USA claims women’s freestyle team title at Pan American Championships
Media Reports: Freestyle National Team member and NCAA runner-up Sammy Sasso reportedly sh...
Drury, Matthews and Voelker pulled into repechage in Greco-Roman at U20 World Championships
Mesenbrink on to second World final, Berge drops finals rematch
