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Henry Cejudo

Henry Cejudo is an American former freestyle wrestler and mixed martial artist born on February 9, 1987.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Henry Cejudo is an American former freestyle wrestler and mixed martial artist born on February 9, 1987. He won an Olympic gold medal in wrestling at the 2008 Beijing Games and later became a two-division UFC champion, holding flyweight and bantamweight titles. His MMA record is listed as 16 wins and 6 losses.

Early life and wrestling career

Cejudo was born in Los Angeles and rose to prominence as a freestyle wrestler. He won gold at the 2008 Summer Olympics, making him the youngest American Olympic wrestling champion at the time.

Mixed martial arts career

Cejudo entered professional MMA and competed in the UFC, where he won titles in two weight classes. His career record is listed as 16 wins and 6 losses.

Retirement and return

Cejudo announced his retirement in May 2020 after UFC 249. Later sources show he returned to competition, including a loss to Aljamain Sterling at UFC 288 by split decision.

Legacy

Cejudo is notable for combining an Olympic gold medal with UFC championship success. He is widely recognized as one of the most accomplished combat sports athletes of his era.

Key facts

  • He won Olympic gold in wrestling at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
  • He became a UFC champion in both the flyweight and bantamweight divisions.
  • His MMA record is 16-6-0.
  • He announced retirement in 2020 but later returned to competition.
  • His most recent loss in the provided sources was to Aljamain Sterling at UFC 288.

Frequently asked questions

How old is Henry Cejudo?
He is 39 years old, born on February 9, 1987.
What is Henry Cejudo's record?
His MMA record is listed as 16-6-0.
Who did Henry Cejudo lose to?
In the provided sources, his most recent listed loss is to Aljamain Sterling at UFC 288 by split decision.
Is Henry Cejudo retired?
He announced retirement in 2020, but later returned to fight again, so he is not consistently described as fully retired in current sources.
Henry Cejudo vs Aljamain Sterling
Cejudo lost to Aljamain Sterling at UFC 288 on May 6, 2023, by split decision.
Henry Cejudo gold medal
He won a gold medal in freestyle wrestling at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the 55 kg division.

References

  1. ESPN — https://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/_/id/3023388/henry-cejudo
    Supports: Birthdate, age, and MMA record.
  2. ESPN — https://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/bio/_/id/3023388/henry-cejudo
    Supports: Birthdate and biographical details.
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Cejudo
    Supports: Birth date, Olympic gold medal, UFC championship history, and retirement announcement context.
  4. National Wrestling Hall of Fame — https://nwhof.org/hall_of_fame/bio/4408
    Supports: 2008 Olympic gold medal, youngest American Olympic wrestling champion claim at the time, and wrestling achievements.
  5. Team USA — https://www.teamusa.com/profiles/henry-cejudo
    Supports: Olympic gold medal and Team USA wrestling profile.
  6. Sherdog — https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Henry-Cejudo-125297
    Supports: MMA record and loss to Aljamain Sterling.
  7. UFC Stats — http://ufcstats.com/fighter-details/056c493bbd76a918
    Supports: Official UFC record and bout result against Aljamain Sterling.