Dana White confirms Henry Cejudo retired, Petr Yan vs. Jose Aldo focused for vacant bantamweight title

Worn UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo could perhaps presumably explain Petr Yan for the bantamweight title left vacant by Henry Cejudo.

UFC President Dana White presented the doable bout on Wednesday for the duration of an episode of ESPN’s Sports Center, alongside side there isn’t an instantaneous timeline or field for the title wrestle. An particular person with knowledge of the imaginable booking mentioned the promotion is brooding about it for UFC 251, which is predicted to happen July 11 in Las Vegas.

Earlier this week, UFC officers confirmed Cejudo had vacated the belt after announcing his retirement at UFC 249. Following his first a hit title defense in a wrestle against ex-champ Dominick Cruz, “Triple C” mentioned he’d done his competitive targets. He left the door beginning for a return with appropriate compensation, nonetheless mentioned he needed to switch on to fresh challenges in his life.

White confirmed Cejudo’s retirement location, closing the door on the fighter’s immediate return to competition.

Bantamweight contenders Yan and Aljamain Sterling had been widely regarded as to ranking the pause spots in the 135-pound division below Cejudo and had been expected to be amongst the major title challengers. Aldo, nonetheless, skipped the road when Cejudo named him because the No. 1 contender following a shut decision loss at UFC 246 to Marlon Moraes. Cejudo beat Moraes to thunder the bantamweight belt left vacant when now-ragged champ T.J. Dillashaw failed a drug test.

Aldo in the intervening time stands at No. 6 in the promotion’s rankings, whereas Moraes, Sterling and Yan ranking the No. 1, 2 and 3 spots, respectively.

Cejudo and Aldo had been scheduled to square off at UFC 250 on Might perhaps fair 9, nonetheless Aldo changed into scratched when he could perhaps presumably no longer fabricate a visa to commute stateside for the match, which changed into moved from Sao Paulo in the wake of the coronavirus epidemic. Cejudo changed into rebooked against Cruz and won via 2d-round TKO.