And while the “King of Cringe” persona has received mixed reviews across the board, Cejudo said he’s confident that his actions inside of the Octagon have spoken louder than those on social media.
“I love the things I’ve done in this sport. I walked the talk, I was the real deal,” Cejudo said. “I may not be 29-0 or be GSP, but I feel like I’m secretly the most respected dude in the UFC.”
After all, it’s hard not to respect the only fighter to be an Olympic champion and don UFC belts from two divisions simultaneously, secretly or not.
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Cejudo also reflected on the things he wishes he had done a little differently. He said he’ll take these lessons with him as he moves on to the next chapter of his life.
“I think I could have done things differently, with gratitude,” Cejudo said. “I think I could have thanked more people. You forget how much people care when you’re so stuck on yourself. I wish I had just given more of my journey to people. Because making them part of your success is kind of what you owe to the people who support you.”
While we can’t expect Cejudo to go gently into that good night of retirement, a return to the Octagon isn’t certain. It’s Cejudo’s way of keeping us all on our toes.
