Henry Cejudo Returns to Freestyle Wrestling After UFC Retirement

Former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo, who retired from mixed martial arts just weeks ago, will return to competition by headlining a freestyle wrestling event on February 28 at Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona. The 38-year-old Olympic gold medalist is set to face an opponent to be announced, marking his first wrestling match since 2015.

Cejudo announced his MMA retirement following a unanimous decision loss to Payton Talbott at UFC 323 on December 6 in Las Vegas. That defeat capped a four-fight losing streak during his second stint in the UFC, where he went 0-4 after a three-year hiatus from his initial retirement in May 2020. Prior to that comeback, Cejudo had enjoyed a successful run, including a knockout victory over T.J. Dillashaw to win the bantamweight title and a second-round stoppage of Dominick Cruz in its defense at UFC 249. His earlier losses came against Aljamain Sterling, Merab Dvalishvili and Song Yadong.

The upcoming bout headlines Real American Freestyle 6, a promotion that launched in April 2025 and specializes in unscripted professional freestyle wrestling matches featuring athletes with MMA backgrounds. The event will stream live on FOX Nation and also...