What should be next for Henry Cejudo after beating TJ Dillashaw?
Gary Meigs, MMATorch Contributor
My opinion would be that Henry Cejudo does exactly what he said he would do in his post-fight interview give the rematch at 135. I believe it’s only fair since TJ came down in weight Henry can make the jump in weight. Book the fight for UFC 238 on June 8 and let’s get it on.
Michael Grocke, MMATorch Fight Handicapper
I know this is will probably be an unpopular opinion, but I think there should be a rematch at 125. I’m probably also in the minority who thinks it was an early stoppage. While not an outrage, early nonetheless. Don’t get me wrong, Joe Benavidez has certainly earned a shot at Cejudo after his performance on Saturday night, but how many people are clamoring to see that fight? Besides, Joe B. isn’t going anywhere and with the flyweight division being as thin as it is with challengers I feel the UFC can wait and give Benavidez the winner of the rematch.
While I respect Henry Cejudo for wanting to go to 135 for the rematch, in my opinion, that would be a mistake. Cejudo is now the face of the flyweight division and he needs to carry the flag for the much-maligned division and take on all challengers at 125. I’m also not concerned with Dillashaw holding up the bantamweight division. Having beaten Garbrandt twice and with Cruz on the shelf, the next challenger he’ll face will most likely be the winner of the Raphael Assuncao/Marlon Moraes fight which takes place on February 2.
Personally, I’d rather see a rematch over the possibility of a Dillashaw/Moraes or Assuncao fight as well as Cejudo/Benavidez.
Frank Hyden, Columnist – The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
A rematch at either flyweight or bantamweight would be a good choice. I would lean towards having it at 135, but that’s only if Cejudo would want that. Cejudo has the power here, so wherever he would want the fight, that’s where it should be at. In the meantime, you run a #1 contenders fight for flyweight so whenever Cejudo is ready after fighting Dillashaw again, he can defend the belt. Having the rematch at 135 would be better in my opinion because it gives Dillashaw a chance to show the weight cut to 125 was too taxing and it also gives Cejudo a chance to show that he’ll be great no matter the weight.
Michael Hiscoe, MMATorch Managing Editor
I typically want to see fighters stay at their weight class, but in this case, a fight between Cejudo and Dillashaw at 135 makes a lot of sense. Cejudo definitely deserves it due to knocking out Dillashaw in short order (I didn’t think it was an early stoppage after initial viewing). That said, what an odd thing it would be if, after Dillashaw moves down to challenge at 125 unsuccessfully, if Cejudo were to move up to challenge at 135 unsuccessfully. That would hurt both divisions and 125 doesn’t need that right now. Dillashaw losing to Cejudo twice at two weights is also terrible for his legacy so he should actually be avoiding a rematch and should move on and defend his bantamweight title.
LIVE UFC BROOKLYN REPORT – CEJUDO VS. DILLASHAW
All of this to say, there is no obvious route moving forward and we still don’t know what UFC’s plans are for the flyweights. If they plan to shutter the division, they have to give Cejudo the shot at bantamweight. If they want to keep the division going, they should book Cejudo against Joseph Benavidez or Jussier Formiga. If they just want to book the biggest fight possible for Cejudo, it should be against Dillashaw at 135.
Sean Covington, Columnist – Covington’s Corner
After defeating TJ Dillashaw, Henry Cejudo should take a long break and not fight until summer. In the summer, Cejudo and Dillashaw should do it again at 135lbs. If TJ were to somehow win that one then we would get a trilogy with the 3rd and final fight being back at 125lbs.
Cejudo could face any of the top-ranked fighters out of each division Jussier Formiga, Joseph Benavidez, Ray Borg, Cody Garbrandt or Dominick Cruz. None of those guys are really ready to get a title shot, they need a fight before then to get focused first. None of those fights really sound appealing until TJ gets his rematch.
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