VA
  • TGT on YouTube
  • About TGT
  • The TGT Team
  • How TGT rates
  • Responsible Gambling Advice
  • Contact Our Team
  • Writers Wanted
  • Content Disclaimer
  • Affiliate Disclosure
Contains commercial content
Billboard Left
Billboard Left
The Grueling Truth - Where Legends Speak / UFC: Petr Yan calls out Henry Cejudo’s return from brief retirement

UFC: Petr Yan calls out Henry Cejudo’s return from brief retirement

Publish Date: 06/20/2022
Fact checked by: Mike Goodpaster

There have been a number of publicized bouts involving the elite bantamweights division in the last few weeks, but Petr “No Mercy” Yan seems intent on fighting an opponent who is not currently ranked in the UFC. Check out the best bookmakers for betting on MMA!

While the division’s top contenders have been paired up, Yan wants a big fight after losing to Aljamain Sterling in April’s UFC 273 championship unification match. Sterling is scheduled to defend his title against T.J. Dillashaw at the upcoming UFC 279 in September. Cory Sandhagen and Song Yadong, as well as Marlon Vera and Dominick Cruz, are all set to face off against one another in that upcoming match.

Check out the top sportsbooks for betting on MMA

BetMGM
4.6/5
BetMGM Review
up to $1,500 back in Bonus Bets
T&Cs apply, 21+
Visit Site
Bet365
4.6/5
Bet365 Review
Bet $1 & Get $365 in Bonus Bets
T&Cs apply, 21+
Visit Site
Bet $1 and Get $365in Bonus Bets at bet365. Deposit required. Bonus Bets winnings are added to Bonus Bets balance. Bonus Bet wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
Caesars
4.5/5
Caesars Review
T&Cs apply, 21+
Visit Site

Yan expresses his intention to fight Henry “The Messenger” Cejudo, a world-class fighter who has just returned to the USADA pool after ending his retirement.

“Hey Henry Cejudo, you talked a lot when you were ‘retired,’” the 29-year-old wrote. “Now it’s time to back it up.”

Few were surprised, though, when Cejudo accepted Yan’s dare and the two engaged in a Twitter spat.

“Only if you had the gold I would have loved to have buried,” Cejudo wrote.

Following his successful championship defense in May 2020 against Dominick Cruz at UFC 249, Cejudo announced his retirement, stressing a desire to be compensated fairly. UFC President Dana White made the announcement during the post-fight news conference that Yan will be challenging for the vacant title in his next fight.

Two months later, at UFC 251, Yan stopped José Aldo in the fifth round to win the bantamweight belt Cejudo had relinquished. However, his debut title defense terminated in debate when he improperly kneed challenger Sterling, leading to Sterling’s disqualification. In spite of his triumph over Sandhagen and the subsequent interim belt and championship chance at UFC 273, Yan was defeated by Sterling via split decision.

“The truth is you retired the day I became number 1 contender and unretired on the same day I ceased to be the champion. Now you ducking me again only proving those facts,” Yan replied.

Cejudo used the chance to attack the reigning bantamweight champion, Sterling, and bash Yan as well.

“You know I’m getting the title shoot next,” Cejudo wrote.

Cejudo’s return

At age 35, Cejudo won the UFC flyweight title in 2018 and successfully defended it just before moving up to the challenge for the vacant bantamweight crown. After winning that belt and defending it once, he decided to retire because he didn’t like the UFC’s financial offer.

Cejudo has spent his retirement teaching boxing at his Scottsdale, Arizona gym. A number of current and previous champions, such as Jon Jones, Deiveson Figueiredo, Zhang Weili, Cris Cyborg, and more, have joined the roster of the 2008 Olympic wrestling gold medalist.

Speculation over the Olympic gold medalist’s return to the cage has been sparked by his recent readmission to the USADA testing pool to end Cejudo’s two years retirement. According to the UFC’s anti-doping protocol, fighters must undergo random drug testing for a minimum of six months before being reinstated into competition.

Check out the top sportsbook bonuses for betting on MMA

BetMGM
1.
Favicon
4.6/5
up to $1,500 back in Bonus Bets
Virginia
Players from Virginia accepted
Min. Deposit: $10
Go to BetMGM
Get Bonus
T&Cs apply, 21+
Bet365
2.
Favicon
4.6/5
Bet $1 & Get $365 in Bonus Bets
Virginia
Players from Virginia accepted
Min. Deposit: $10
Go to Bet365
Get Bonus
T&Cs apply, 21+
Bet $1 and Get $365in Bonus Bets at bet365. Deposit required. Bonus Bets winnings are added to Bonus Bets balance. Bonus Bet wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
Caesars
3.
Favicon
4.5/5
Virginia
Players from Virginia accepted
Get Bonus
T&Cs apply, 21+
PointsBet
4.
Favicon
4.5/5
5 x $50Bet Credits
Virginia
Players from Virginia accepted
Requirements (WR): 1x Deposit, Min. Deposit: $10
Copy
Get Bonus
T&Cs apply, 21+
BetRivers.com
5.
Favicon
4.5/5
100% up to $500
Virginia
Players from Virginia accepted
Requirements (WR): 1x Bonus, Min. Deposit: $10
Copy
Get Bonus
T&Cs apply, 21+
Billboard Left
Billboard Left
Read Also
UFC 280 Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makhachev: Preview and Predictions
🥊 UFC Match:Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makhachev 📅 Date: October 20th, 2022 🕛 Main Event Time: ...
Esteban de Jesus, Roberto Duran y AIDS (1972-89)
Many of us dream of celebrity sports fame, but only cruel individuals ...
BetMGM Promo
Elmer Ray: The Humble Man of Hastings
"Men judge generally more by the eye than by the hand, for ...
Sam Teets 2021 NFL three-round predictive mock draft 6.0
This is a predictive NFL mock draft and my final of the ...
Peter Maher: An Irish Tribute
INTRO: I was seriously ill in 2018 with 7 nights in the ...
Ranking the top 200 players in the NFL ahead of the 2021 season
This list isn’t based solely on performances from the 2020 NFL season. ...
Lady Tyger’s Tale: How Marian Trimiar Mauled the Boxing Establishment of the 1970s and 80s
To Feed the Ambition in Your Heart is Like Carrying a Tiger ...
The Forgotten Canadian Champion (And Maybe It’s Deserved): Billy Hawkins
As Mike Goodpaster and I prepare our popular Old-Time Boxing Show podcast, ...
The Army Boxer Who Knocked-Down Muhammad Ali (1960)
I had wanted to write a boxing story about Junebug Hudson for ...
Sportsbook of the month
PointsBet - Get your Bonus Bet now! Get your Bonus Bet now!
Latest News
Canelo Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo: Can’t Knock The Hustle 
Canelo Alvarez and Jermell Charlo put it all ...
Was the 1918 World Series Between the Red Sox and Cubs Fixed?
Everybody knows about the 1919 World Series and ...
Our Latest YouTube Videos
Video: College Football Prediction show: Notre Dame vs Duke Preview and prediction!
College Football Prediction show: Notre Dame vs Duke Preview and prediction!
Video: Cincinnati Bearcats on the Prowl: Cincinnati vs BYU Preview and Oklahoma recap
Cincinnati Bearcats on the Prowl: Cincinnati vs BYU Preview and Oklahoma recap
Video: NFL Best Betting Show: Picking all Week 4 games againt the Spread!
NFL Best Betting Show: Picking all Week 4 games againt the Spread!
Betting Tips
09/30/2023 - 11:30 am
Mohegan Sun Arena
Tip:
Sun to win from 2-0
-120.00
FanDuel
09/30/2023 - 12:00 pm
Folsom Field
Tip:
USC to Cover
-21.50
FanDuel
09/30/2023 - 12:00 pm
Texas Memorial Stadium
Tip:
Kansas to Cover
16.50
FanDuel
Sportsbook of the month
PointsBet - Get your Bonus Bet now! Get your Bonus Bet now!
Top Betting Sites
Top Betting Bonuses
BetMGM
BetMGM
BetMGM Review
4.6/5
Bet365
Bet365
Bet365 Review
4.6/5
Caesars
Caesars
Caesars Review
4.5/5
PointsBet
PointsBet
PointsBet Review
4.5/5
BetRivers.com
BetRivers.com
BetRivers.com Review
4.5/5
BetMGM
BetMGM Bonus
up to $1,500 back in Bonus Bets
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Bet365
Bet365 Bonus
Bet $1 & Get $365 in Bonus Bets
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Bet $1 and Get $365in Bonus Bets at bet365. Deposit required. Bonus Bets winnings are added to Bonus Bets balance. Bonus Bet wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
PointsBet
PointsBet Bonus
5 x $50Bet Credits
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
BetRivers.com
BetRivers.com Bonus
100% up to $500
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Unibet
Unibet Bonus
$100 Second Chance Bet
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
21+ and physically present in VA only. Terms & Conditions apply. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call, text or chat, VA Council on Problem Gambling on their confidential and toll free helpline at: 1-888-532-3500.
Our Team
Mike GoodpasterAuthor IconJosh SchwartzSamuel TeetsSimon Briffa
+8
Mike Goodpaster
Mike Goodpaster
Chief Editor
Author Icon
Christopher Carlson
Content Writer
Josh Schwartz
Josh Schwartz
Editor
Samuel Teets
Samuel Teets
US Sports Veteran
Simon Briffa
Simon Briffa
Sports Editor
Mark Lewis
Mark Lewis
Editor
Chris Benedict
Chris Benedict
Editor
Author Icon
Daniel Kornhauser
Author
Author Icon
Malik Zorrok
Author
John Raspanti
John Raspanti
Author
Author Icon
Buddy Gibbs
Author
Brian Coburn
Brian Coburn
Author
Peter Bonahoom
Peter Bonahoom
Author
Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week....

If you enjoy hearing from the legends of pro sports, then be sure to tune into “The Grueling Truth” sports shows, “Where the legends speak”

Contact us: contact@thegruelingtruth.com

Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.

This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times.

21+NCPG
Move to Top
Close
Players accepted in the US US Flag
Stake.us Exclusive Bonus
$25 No Deposit + 250,000 Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
Promo Code
Copy
Visit Site
T&Cs apply, 18+
Payment Methods
Bitcoin
Litecoin
Ethereum
Dogecoin
Highlights
  • Exclusive promo code: TGTSOCIAL
  • Play Plinko, Hilo, Crash and more!
  • Get Stake Cash bonuses every day!
Stake Originals
Dice
Crash
Plinko
Mines
×
Your Promo Code:
The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. If not, you can open it also by clicking the following link:
Visit Site