‘Iron Mike’ liked what he saw from a former two-division UFC champion.
Along with the 2 reigning titleholders who’re set to headline UFC 323, the upcoming pay-per-view in Las Vegas will feature multiple fighters with experience occupying thrones in MMA’s leading promotion.
Before Petr Yan challenges Merab Dvalishvili in pursuit of becoming a two-time bantamweight champion, Brandon Moreno and Jan Blachowicz will look to advance their ambitions of creating their way back to UFC gold.
However it’ll be a unique story for Henry Cejudo, a retiring former two-division champ who’s widely thought to be one in all the best athletes in combat sports history.
While known for his wrestling, ‘Triple C’ just isn’t without his striking strengths, which the legendary Mike Tyson witnessed first-hand back in 2020.
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Mike Tyson taught former UFC double champion Henry Cejudo his devastating uppercut
After Cejudo finished Dominick Cruz at UFC 249 to successfully defend the bantamweight title for the primary time, the 2008 Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling announced his surprise retirement.
That call didn’t stop ‘Triple C’ from staying involved in combat sports, and he even found himself within the ring with ‘Iron Mike’ just weeks later.
On the time, the previous undisputed heavyweight world champion was preparing to make his boxing comeback just a few months before sharing the ring with Roy Jones Jr.
Tyson was putting in work with MMA coach Rafael Cordeiro, who uploaded footage of what unfolded when the boxing legend trained with Cejudo.
‘Iron Mike’ taught the UFC star one in all his signature moves, demonstrating learn how to land a few his devastating uppercuts to the body in quick succession.
Tyson was clearly impressed by Cejudo, describing his attempts to copy the move as “perfect.”
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Dana White defended selection of opponent for Henry Cejudo’s retirement fight at UFC 323
Saturday’s PPV in Las Vegas is about to mark the ultimate outing contained in the Octagon for one in all combat sports’ best.
Cejudo has decided to return to retirement after one final fight, having been unable to regain the bantamweight title since making his comeback in 2023.
The choice to match a legend like ‘Triple C’ against an unranked prospect in Payton Talbott caused some debate when it was first announced.
But in addition to Cejudo reacting positively to the UFC 323 booking, Dana White also defended it.
“It’s a fun fight,” White said during a Contender Series press conference.
“, when you will have a young up and coming guy like Talbott, you would like to put him in against guys which might be a hardcore veteran like (Cejudo). So yeah, I really like that fight,” he added.