Henry Cejudo has publicly honored Gilbert Burns following Burns' retirement from MMA competition. Cejudo praised Burns for assembling an excellent resume throughout his fighting career. The former two-division UFC champion expressed respect for Burns' accomplishments in the sport. Burns, a longtime welterweight contender, recently announced his decision to retire. Cejudo's tribute highlights the mutual respect among high-level competitors in the sport.
Henry Cejudo took to social media to pay tribute to Gilbert Burns following the Brazilian welterweight's announcement that he is retiring from mixed martial arts competition.
Cejudo, known as "Triple C," praised Burns for building an excellent resume across a long and decorated career, expressing genuine respect for everything Burns achieved in the sport. The acknowledgment from a fighter of Cejudo's stature underscores the regard Burns commands among elite competitors.
Cejudo, 39, is a former two-division UFC champion who holds a professional record of 16 wins and 6 losses and currently sits ranked ninth in the bantamweight division. The American, who trains out of Fight Ready, has averaged 3.82 significant strikes per minute throughout his career while also posing a consistent grappling threat with 1.84 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Burns, nicknamed "Durinho," retires at 39 years old with a record of 22 wins and 10 losses, finishing his career ranked 13th in the welterweight division. The Brazilian out of Kill Cliff FC was a fixture near the top of one of the UFC's most competitive divisions for years. He averaged 3.15 significant strikes per minute with a 48 percent striking accuracy, and his grappling credentials were equally strong, averaging 2.12 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 0.5 submission attempts per 15 minutes — a reflection of the well-rounded game that made him a consistent threat at 170 pounds.
Why it matters
- Burns spent years as one of welterweight's most durable and dangerous contenders, and his departure marks the end of a significant era in the division.
- The tribute from Cejudo, himself one of the sport's most accomplished champions, speaks to the respect Burns earned across the MMA community.
- Burns' retirement opens a spot in the welterweight rankings, with implications for contenders currently on the division's fringes.
