Att Ronda Rousey är en OS-medaljör är det nog få som har lyckats undgå. MMAnytt gjorde nyligen en analys om hur OS-medaljörer så som Dan Henderson, Ronda Rousey med flera har lyckats efter övergången till MMA.
Det är nu dags för ännu en medaljör att pröva lyckan inom MMA. 26-årige Henry Cejudo deltog 2008 i OS i Peking där han plockade hem en guldmedalj i fristilsbrottningens 55kilos-klass. Med guldet blev han den yngsta amerikanska brottaren någonsin att vinna ett OS-guld. Han kommer i mars att göra sin debut då han först den 2 mars kommer möta Michael Poe (0-4) i World Series Federation för att sedan gå ännu en match den 24 mars i Gladiator Challenge mot en ännu okänd motståndare.
Tedd Williams som är president för Gladiator Challenge säger följande i ett pressmedelande, “We are very excited that Henry Cejudo will be joining our organization. To have such a rare talent as an Olympic gold medalist join Gladiator Challenge to begin his career in mixed martial arts is a tremendous opportunity for our company, and we believe for Henry Cejudo. Cejudo had many options open to him, as multiple promoters were clamoring to sign him, but he chose to fight for us. Cejudo recognized the many positive changes underway as a result of the recent change in ownership of Gladiator Challenge, and felt confident that this was a good home to begin his fight career.
Henry Cejudo hade följande att säga, “It was very important to me to join an organization that has an established track record of helping young fighters grow into world class athletes and champions. Gladiator Challenge has been a home to such fighters as Quinton Jackson, Rashad Evans, Urijah Faber, Tyson Griffin, Chael Sonnen, Michael McDonald, and many others. I want to fight for a credible organization and face high caliber opponents. Gladiator Challenge is that organization, and has made that commitment to me.
“Gladiator Challenge will provide me with a consistent platform to grow as a fighter, and has made a substantial commitment to me so that I may gain the necessary experience to become a world champion. After our discussions with Bruce Kopitar and Tedd Williams, I was sold on the exciting new direction of the company, and how it would be a great fit for me to launch my MMA career. The promotion has a huge following and I love to compete. I’m ready and can’t wait to put on a show.”
Med tanke på att han redan tidigare hade sin MMA-debut bokad den 2 mars var det lite oklart om matchen var inställd men MMAFighting.com var i kontakt med Cejudos representant William McFarlane som berättade att Cejudo kommer att gå båda matcherna.
Han säger även, ”Henry does not want to back out of the fight even though that ability does exist,” he said. ”He wants the fight to assess his progress and is willing to fight again in three weeks.”
Trots deltagandet i 55-kilosklassen så kommer han inleda MMA-karriären som bantamviktare (61 kg).
