Henry Cejudo, the UFC champion in flyweight category has managed to defend his belt for the initial time ever on Saturday in Brooklyn, New York, against bantamweight titleholder TJ Dillashaw. Through the process, Cejudo has managed to get the most crucial buzz among the UFC fans around the globe after defeating Demetrious Johnson in August.
Around ten years before, Cejudo had an experience which was quite an equally exciting win: where he won a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in freestyle wrestling. Undoubtedly, both were quite excited for him. Just before the key fight of him against Dillashaw Cejudo got candid with ESPN’s Phil Murphy and expressed, in his own words, about what it took for him to reach this level.
Winning the Olympic gold medal. According to him, it’s all about being distinguishing in what you do. He says- “This belief system up here, the brain I have inside of my head. That’s key. This is why I got to where I’m at. It’s Because of the desire, the fact that I’m able to look adversity in the eyes and roll with it”.
“I didn’t go through the whole NCAA season [at Grand Canyon University]. Two years out of high school, I went to the Olympics. I was already thinking big outside the box. I left my home at the age of 17 to chase my dream. Left the people at the training center; there was no money, no family, no nothing. It’s Just a dream”.
He remembers the challenge of winning four matches on a single day. According to him, he was down in all three matches. But, post getting into the gold medal match, he remembered that this is something he was dreaming for. He says “I remember being so scared. But, when I got to the arena, all of these nerves just left me. I told myself, “You’ve been here before. You know what it’s like. Now it’s time to seize the moment. Go get your prize.”
