Sean O'Malley

Henry Cejudo has become known for providing the MMA world with plenty of cringe inducing moments, with the goal, one would think, to raise his profile. But, according to bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley, he doesn’t believe the act’s working for the champ.

O’Mally weighs-in on Cejudo’s “cringey” act

When Cejudo first made his way to the UFC back in 2014, the decorated wrestler didn’t really make headlines via promos or trash talk. But, as he worked his way into the title shot mix at 125 that started to change.

After Cejudo won the flyweight title in 2018, by ending the storied reign of Demetrious Johnson, “The Messenger” started to ramp up the trash talk. Since Cejudo also won the bantamweight belt, the Olympic Gold Medalist wrestler has really taken his “Triple C” act to another level.

Well, recently O’Malley spoke with MMA Junkie. While talking about Cejudo and his “Triple C” persona, he said this.

“I wouldn’t consider that working for him,” O’Malley said. “I think he’s definitely trying, but he’s just trying too hard and it’s hard to watch.

And I guess that’s the way they’re going for – the cringe – but I think he could have taken that a different route. I don’t know.

I think as a champ, he’s beat some really, really good dudes. Yeah, he’s really good – but he’s just a cringey dude.”

Now, depending on your own personality of course, but if you’ve seen many of Cejudo’s promotional videos, you probably understand why he’s become synonymous with “cringe”. Even the champ has called himself the ‘King of Cringe’.

The question is, however, has it helped raise his profile? And made more people aware of him? Probably right?

While Cejudo may not be everyone’s favorite because of the act, MMA is a sport where the most important thing is people want to see you fight, win or lose.

Cejudo vs. Cruz?

Recently Dana White reported that the UFC is hoping to have Cejudo face former bantamweight champ, Dominick Cruz, at an event on May 9th. No official location, however, has been announced, and due to the coronavirus pandemic it’s not clear if it will happen.

Cruz would be stepping in for Jose Aldo, who originally was supposed to face Cejudo, until restrictions from the pandemic forced the UFC to change plans.

While talking about that situation, and the fact Aldo is officially coming off a split decision to Marlon Moraes in December, O’Malley said this.

“Yeah, it’s super weird,” O’Malley said. “That Jose Aldo fight, I definitely thought he won against Marlon (Moraes). … Dana’s like, ‘No, I thought he won that fight, I’ll give him a title shot.’ So it’s pretty cool Dana has that power and it’s his company, (but) it’s pretty weird coming off a loss.

“I mean, Cruz deserves it in a sense – all the injuries he’s had to deal with and how his career went, so I don’t know. I wouldn’t be upset with him getting it but there’s also guys like (Cory) Sandhagen and (Aljamain Sterling) that probably deserve it more, coming off wins. Yeah, that’s a tough one.”

It will be interesting to see if Cruz ends of facing Cejudo, or if anyone actually fights on May 9th.

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