LOS ANGELES — After 2,499 days and 14 fights, the greatest title reign in UFC history is over.
Top-ranked Henry Cenjudo swarmed champion Demetrious Johnson and refused to give any ground, using his elite wrestling and grit to earn a split decision and win the flyweight championship in the UFC 27 co-main event Saturday night at Staples Center.
The judges scored it 48-47, 47-48, 48-47 for Cejudo, who becomes the first person to win a UFC championship and an Olympic gold medal (freestyle wrestling in the 2008 Beijing Olympics).
“This is a dream come true. From Olympic gold medalist to UFC champion,” Cejudo said. “I was born right here in Los Angeles, in a two-bedroom apartment, so from the bottom of my heart, thank you to these fans in California for their support.”
Cejudo then called out the winner of the bantamweight title fight between champion T.J. Dillashaw and former champion Cody Garbrandt. Much speculation all week centered around one of them taking on Johnson should “Mighty Mouse” run his consecutive title streak to 12.
Yet few gave Cejudo, a +375 underdog, a chance or even put him in the superfight conversation.
“I felt very disrespected all week, with all of the talk of a superfight. so I am standing here now to say that I want the winner of the main event,” Cejudo said.
Dillashaw, who knocked out Garbrandt in the first round of the main event to retain his title Saturday night, welcomed it.
“Bring it, baby. Let’s do this!,” Dillashaw said.
Johnson (27-3-1), 31, was the only 125-pound champion the UFC had ever known since he won it with a split-decision win over Joseph Benavidez on Sept. 22, 2012.
He was making his UFC record 12th consecutive title defense. His eighth title defense was a TKO of Cejudo at 2:49 of the opening round at UFC 197 on April 23, 2016.
This time, Cejudo (13-2) maintained the center of the Octagon. Johnson’s plan was apparent early, and he peppered the South Central L.A. native with leg kicks.
Cejudo, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz., scored takedowns in the second and fourth rounds to likely win those rounds. With Johnson seeming to win the first and third rounds, it came down to the final round.
Cejudo, who had never fought beyond three rounds, controlled the fifth round, taking the champ down once and doing enough to sway two judges.
Johnson, fighting out of Parkland, Wash., lost for the first time since dropping a unanimous decision to Dominick Cruz for the UFC bantamweight title Oct. 1, 2011.
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