Henry Cejudo to be stripped of UFC 125-pound title

UFC will soon be down to one champ-champ as MMA Junkie reported Thursday night that Henry Cejudo will be stripped of the flyweight title.

While UFC has yet to formally announce the news or talk to Cejudo, the plan is for top contenders Joseph Benavidez and Deiveson Figueiredo to face off for the vacant belt on an ESPN+ show on February 29th in Norfolk, VA. That was first reported by BJPenn.com.

Cejudo, also the bantamweight champion, has been on the shelf for six months following shoulder surgery. The flyweight title was last defended in January when Cejudo finished T.J. Dillashaw in 32 seconds. He then beat Marlon Moraes for the vacant bantamweight title by third round TKO in June. It’s assumed he will not be stripped of that title.

The 35-year-old Benavidez is riding a three fight win streak and has been angling for a rematch against Cejudo who he beat by split decision in December 2016. Benavidez has lost just once since 2014, a stretch of 10 fights.

The 31-year-old Figueiredo has won two straight and is 17-1 in his career. He has been in the UFC since 2017 and is 6-1 since then with his lone loss coming to Jussier Formiga. Formiga was defeated by Benavidez earlier this year.

The remaining double champion is Amanda Nunes who holds the UFC women’s bantamweight and featherweight titles.