Advertisement

Olympic Gold Medalist Henry Cejudo Signs with UFC, Set to Fight Scott Jorgensen at UFC 177

Olympic Gold Medalist Henry Cejudo Signs with UFC, Set to Fight Scott Jorgensen at UFC 177

The UFC has signed 2008 Olympic gold medalist and undefeated mixed martial artist Henry Cejudo to a multi-fight deal, promotion officials announced on Friday evening.

After winning the first six fights of his MMA career, Cejudo will get his first chance on the big stage against former WEC bantamweight champion Scott Jorgensen on Aug. 30 at UFC 177 in Sacramento, Calif.

“It feels good to be part of the UFC family finally,” Cejudo said in a statement on UFC.com.

In the Beijing games of 2008, Cejudo became the youngest American wrestler to win gold, topping Japan's Tomohiro Matsunaga. He then transitioned to MMA in early 2013, making his professional debut with the World Fighting Federation and earning a first-round finish.

Cejudo spent his last two fights under the Legacy Fighting Championships banner, earning two unanimous decisions before signing for the Jorgensen fight in the UFC.

“[Jorgensen] is a tough fighter and I know it’s going to be a fight,” Cejudo said. “But I’m ready. You could say I was born ready, and if that’s who they want me to fight, that’s who I’ll fight. My goal is to become a world champion.”

Cejuda joins a growing list of Olympic athletes now competing in the UFC, including Sara McMann, Yoel Romero and current women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey.

(Follow @Erik_Fontanez on Twitter)

Follow MMAWeekly.com on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.