Henry Cejudo has pulled off a stunning victory that has revitalized the UFC’s flyweight division.Cejudo (14-2) successfully defended his flyweight title for the first time at UFC Fight Night in a thrilling 32-second finish against bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw, who moved down in weight in pursuit of a second title.This match marked the fifth fastest knockout or TKO in UFC title fight history.
Cejudo dominated the fight from the start, not allowing Dillashaw a chance to recover. Dillashaw attempted to slow Cejudo down by grabbing his leg, but Cejudo responded with a flurry of left hands to secure the victory. It was a remarkable outcome for a fight that had significant implications for the division as a whole.
After Cejudo’s victory against Demetrious Johnson in August, there were talks within the UFC about potentially discontinuing the 125-pound division. This decision likely would have been accelerated if Dillashaw had emerged victorious.
Cejudo dedicated his win to all the flyweights striving for a shot at a world title, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the talent in the lighter weight classes. He reiterated that the smaller fighters should not be underestimated.
Dillashaw, competing in the 125-pound category for the first time, expressed his frustration with the fight’s outcome, immediately appealing to the referee and later venting his disappointment during the post-fight conference
“I truly believe I’m far superior to Henry Cejudo. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the chance to prove it,” Dillashaw lamented. “I’m incredibly frustrated right now. I put in an immense amount of effort for this. I’m deeply disappointed. I came in feeling fantastic, expecting a great performance. But things didn’t go my way.”
