Former UFC veteran announces his retirement in a discussion with US President Donald Trump at the NCAA wrestling championship

Henry Cejudo is one of the few fighters who have secured two championship belts. However, announcing his retirement once in 2020, after defending the bantamweight championship belt against Dominick Cruz, the former UFC veteran returned to the ring in 2023 and lost the belt to Aljamain Sterling. Ever since he has been on a losing streak, getting a defeat handed over by Merab Dvalishvili and Song Yadong. Following this recent string of losses, the Triple C has decided to hang his gloves and announced it in a discussion with US President Donald Trump at the NCAA wrestling championship.

Henry Cejudo decides to hang his gloves after getting handed three consecutive losses, including a title loss

Henry Cejudo was recently in the news alongside Song Yadong, not because of the former’s defeat but because of a controversial eye poke that led to the decision in favour of the latter fighter. The injury caused him diplopia, soft tissue damage and corneal abrasion. According to the medical reports, Cejudo had just mildly escaped permanent eye damage.

Since then, the fighter has not announced his next fight, keeping the fans at bay and now, recently at the NCAA wrestling championship, Cejudo announced his retirement in a conversation with US President Donald Trump. It will be just one more match for the American fighter before he leaves the Octagon for good. Cejudo took to Instagram and posted a video of his conversation with the president. The fighter wrote:

“Awesome catching up with the President @realdonaldtrump at the 2025 NCAA Wrestling championships. I can honestly say my reality is better than my dream! #MAGA”


Both individuals are seen exchanging words of goodwill when Cejudo adds to one of his replies talking about his future fights, “I’ve got one more and I’m calling it.” The duo went on to discuss the future of upcoming NCAA wrestlers. When the former wrestler and the UFC veteran was asked if they would perform well in the MMA rings, the fighter instantly replied, “Obviously. There’s the folkstyle level, then you’ve got the freestylers—you know how the rules are different.” The short video ended with Trump acknowledging the confidence Cejudo had in these younger generations of wrestlers. However, the retirement statement was the bit that sparked talks within the MMA community as well as the fans.

Also read: Molly McCann Explains UFC Retirement: ‘I’m Not Good Enough Anymore’

Henry Cejudo, despite his last three losses, had a good run in the UFC. He had held both the flyweight and the bantamweight titles and defended them against fighters like Demetrious Johnson, T.J. Dillashaw and Marlon Moraes. While the fighter has not revealed his future plans post-retirement, it is only a matter of time when we will get to see if he stays within the combat sports circuit in any role or capacity other than a fighter within the ring.