Former UFC bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo and long-time coach Eric Albarracin have now gone separate ways and did so on camera.
Cejudo and Albarracin have been a successful training team for circa a decade. Throughout the partnership Cejudo would become one of few simultaneous double champions – something the former Olympian wrestler accomplished in both the flyweight and bantamweight divisions.
Despite that success Cejudo decided to part ways with Albarracin and did so in the middle of filming this week’s episode of UFC Countdown.
“You were with me from my last Olympic trials, you’ve been there for me,” Cejudo told a noticeably emotional Albarracin. “But as of right now, I just want to let you know that for this camp, dude, I’m getting rid of specific coaches, man. That’s you included, dude.”
“Sometimes you are too close to somebody and people just get too comfortable,” Cejudo explained during the episode of Countdown.
Despite the shocking manner in which he was informed of the decision, Albarracin handled the situation gracefully.
“The goal has always been the same,” Albarracin said. “For you to be the greatest combat sports athlete of all time. And to me, that was a dream come true.”
“This is why this man is the GOAT coach,” Cejudo responded, embracing Albarracin. “The most unselfish human that you will ever meet. Captain Eric Albarracin.”
Henry Cejudo faces the bantamweight divisions boogeyman
Cejudos next fight will be at UFC 298 against Merab Dvalishvili – who is riding a massive nine fight winning streak. In his current streak Dvalishvili has defeated former UFC champions Jose Aldo and Petr Yan amongst others and with a massive gas tank as well as uncompromising wrestling, is seen as a much-avoided boogeyman in the division.
Cejudo had the hottest period of his career between 2017 and 2020 – the same period which saw him become double champion. During that time Cejudo defeated all-time greats such as Dominick Cruz and Demetrious Johnson.
After knocking out Cruz at UFC 249 Cejudo announced a shocking and unexpected retirement. Many speculated that the retirement was an ill-fated bargaining tool, though nothing came from the retirement.
Following three years of inactivity Cejudo returned to challenge former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling for the title at at FUC 288 in Match of last year, losing a unanimous decision.
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