Henry Cejudo Losses: Former UFC Double Champ’s Every Career Defeat

As the only athlete to claim both an Olympic gold medal and a UFC championship, Henry Cejudo’s name is etched in the history books. From the wrestling mats to the bright lights of the Octagon, Cejudo’s journey has been one of dominance, strategy, and undeniable grit.

But even the best stumble. With a 10-4 record in the UFC, ‘Triple C’ has faced his share of setbacks. So, who were the warriors that managed to conquer the king?

Henry Cejudo’s UFC losses

When Henry Cejudo signed with the UFC in 2014, expectations were sky-high. An Olympic gold medalist stepping into the Octagon? The hype was real. And for a while, he lived up to it, going undefeated in the promotion in his first 4 fights.

But then came his first taste of defeat, and it came at the hands of a legend. At UFC 197 in 2016, Cejudo faced Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, the reigning flyweight champion. Undefeated at the time, Cejudo had the world watching.

But Johnson was a different beast. He overwhelmed Cejudo with brutal knees to the body in the clinch, forcing a first-round TKO. It was a brutal welcome to the elite level and his first professional loss.

Later that same year, Cejudo stepped into the cage against Joseph Benavidez at The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions Finale. This time, it was razor-close. The two warriors went to war for three rounds, but Cejudo was docked a point in the first round for repeated low blows. That deduction proved costly, as Benavidez edged out a split decision victory.

Then, something changed. That loss ignited a fire in Cejudo. He returned sharper, hungrier. Two years later, he got his revenge against Johnson at UFC 227, winning the flyweight belt by split decision. But Cejudo wasn’t satisfied with just one title.

He moved up to bantamweight and took out Marlon Moraes at UFC 238, capturing a second belt and cementing his legacy as a two-division champion. After defending it against Dominick Cruz at UFC 249, Cejudo shocked the world by retiring.

But retirement was short-lived. In 2023, he returned to challenge Aljamain Sterling for the bantamweight crown. This time, he came up short. Sterling outpointed him in a close split decision at UFC 288, marking Cejudo’s third career loss.

Determined to climb back to the top, Cejudo stepped back into the Octagon at UFC 298 in 2024, taking on Merab Dvalishvili. But once again, he fell short, losing a unanimous decision. 

Henry Cejudo’s MMA record and stats

Despite those losses, Henry Cejudo’s overall MMA record stands at 16-4. A decorated wrestler, he made his professional MMA debut in 2013, competing at bantamweight. He won his first six fights, finishing three opponents via TKO and one by submission.

Cejudo’s win distribution reveals his evolution as a fighter, 40% of his victories came by knockout or TKO, and 60% were earned through decisions.

Initially known for his wrestling, Henry Cejudo transformed into a complete mixed martial artist, blending striking, movement, and fight IQ. His ability to adapt is what made him a two-division champion and one of the most decorated fighters in the sport. And that is evident in the quality of his win column.

How many titles has Henry Cejudo won?

Henry Cejudo’s championship legacy stretches across two sports, making him one of the most decorated combat athletes in history. In wrestling, he captured Olympic gold in 2008, becoming the youngest American to achieve that feat at just 21. He also claimed multiple Pan American Championships and U.S. national titles, proving his dominance on the mats. But his success didn’t stop there.

Transitioning to MMA, Cejudo defied the odds, winning the UFC flyweight championship at UFC 227 by dethroning Demetrious Johnson in a razor-close decision. He then moved up in weight and claimed the UFC bantamweight championship at UFC 238, stopping Marlon Moraes, to become the seventh fighter in UFC history to hold belts in two divisions.

Not only that, but he became just the fourth fighter to hold two titles simultaneously. Adding to his legacy, he successfully defended both championships once before briefly retiring in 2020.

Now, at UFC Fight Night 252, the 38-year-old Cejudo will be stepping into the Octagon against the dangerous Song Yadong. Currently, on a 2-fight skid, this is ‘Triple C’s opportunity to shut down the doubters and prove his skills against a young, rising star in the division. Will he be able to pull out another vintage performance this time around? What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!