Det stod nyligen klart att flugviktaren Henry Cejudo kommer att få en andra chans att möta flugviktsmästaren Demetrious Johnson. Cejudo fick sin första chans på UFC 197 då han förlorade via TKO i första ronden. Sedan dess har han vunnit 2 av sina 3 senaste matcher och senast besegrade han Sergio Pettis via enhälligt domslut. I en intervju med MMAJunkie berättar Cejudo att han planerar att göra det mesta av situationen då han anser att den typen av andra chanser som han har fått är så pass ovanliga.
There’s not too many times in life do you get a chance at redemption. It’s a second opportunity that I’m able to have. I can’t pass it up. I’m 31 years old. I’m an elite athlete. I’ve been in MMA for about five-and-a-half years now. There’s no time to waste now. I’m a fighter now. I’m officially a mixed martial artist. I’m not a wrestler no more. I’m seizing the opportunity. I’m smarter now. I’m faster. I’m more intelligent. The UFC and everybody sees my improvements, and they’re willing to give me a second chance. I was knocked out in my first fight. I was stopped in less than three minutes. Who would ever get a rematch getting put out like that? The way I see it is, there’s an opportunity for redemption.
Cejudo berättar att så som han ser det så har han störst chans just nu att besegra Johnson.
If I’m going to put my body through hell, if I’m going to hurt, I would rather do it on Demetrious Johnson. If I’m going to sacrifice my time, my body and everything, it’s on him. It’s been over two years since I fought him, and if I can’t get him now, when am I going to get him? This is why I’ve been so adamant about, ‘Give me Demetrious now.’ I’ve been spending months at a time in Brazil, in Europe, in Asia. It’s only helped me. The sacrifices have been done, and now it’s just time to display my heart in this sport.
Cejudo berättar även att han respekterar Johnson men att den här gången har han vad som krävs för att slutgiltligen stå som segrare.
I respect Demetrious Johnson to the fullest. I wouldn’t travel the world and find different training partners and coaches to help me defeat this man if I didn’t want to win. I’ve traveled to Brazil, Europe, Asia – all in preparation to defeat Demetrious Johnson, to defeat the pound-for-pound best fighter in history. His style will never change. His style is always going to be different, but he’s become more patient. His timing is better, his distance is better, and he’s polishing up on all those minor details. At this stage in the game, it’s all about details. He’s done a great job with that, but I think I’m dangerous, and I can do a little bit more. I can have multiple game plans. I have a dominant base, and that’s one area where I feel good.
Cejudo och Johnson möts under UFC 227 som äger rum den 4:e augusti på Staples Center i Los Angeles, USA.
