WATCH: Dana White helps disheartened Henry Cejudo remove gloves after tough loss to Aljamain Sterling at UFC 288

Henry Cejudo struggled to remove the gloves, and Dana White came forward to help the fighter get them off in a wholesome moment.

WATCH: Dana White helps disheartened Henry Cejudo remove gloves after tough loss to Aljamain Sterling at UFC 288

Dana white helps Henry Cejudo with the gloves (Image via Twitter)

Henry Cejudo returned to the UFC octagon after three years of inactivity. The former bantamweight title holder challenged Aljamain Sterling to a title fight last year. At the time, Sterling was recovering from surgery. Dana White and the UFC decided to book the title fight for May 2023.

Henry Cejudo found it difficult to overcome his ring rust at UFC 288. Due to three years of inactivity, Cejudo could not find his striking range and punch set-ups against Sterling. Cejudo fought better in the final two rounds and clearly won the last round in the eyes of many. However, it was not enough, as Cejudo lost a split decision to Sterling.

YouTube video

During the post-fight speech, Henry Cejudo said, “I just don’t know where to take it from here, Joe. I’m a little confused right now about whether I continue. It’s like Ricky Bobby, if I’m not first, I’m last. And if I can’t beat, and my goal was to go up to 145 pounds, but if I can’t get the victory over, then I just don’t know where that puts me.”

FS Video

The 36-year-old also hinted that he might retire after talking to his wife. Cejudo is arguably the greatest combat sports athlete on the planet. No fighter managed to win an Olympic Gold medal and two world championships in the UFC. He won the flyweight title in 2018 and claimed the bantamweight title in 2019. However, he did not win the title against Sterling at UFC 288 and might leave the sport again for good.

Related: “Done the splits like a stripper” – Conor McGregor and fans troll ‘mastermind’ Henry Cejudo for failed comeback after hype

Dana White helped Henry Cejudo to take off his gloves at UFC 288

Dana White Henry Cejudo
Dana White and Henry Cejudo (Image via MMA fighting)

Joe Rogan came into the octagon to interview the fighters. Rogan interviewed Sterling while Cejudo waited for his turn. However, a fan captured Dana White talking to a disheartened Cejudo. In the glimpse of the clip, Henry appears sad and dejected after his title fight loss.

Henry Cejudo tried to get his tight-tapped UFC gloves off. Dana saw it and came to help Cejudo take off the gloves. Once the gloves were off, both waited silently for Sterling’s interview to get over.

Cejudo indicated in his post-fight interview that he could walk away from the sport. Despite the result, Cejudo remains one of the best fighters in the lower-weight classes. On the other hand, Dana White will focus on promoting UFC 289 featuring the bantamweight title fight between Amanda Nunes and Irene Aldana.

In case you missed it!