Former two-division Henry Cejudo made a surprising declaration during a recent episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast, stating he would prefer a career in exotic dancing over competing in bare-knuckle competition. The candid admission came while discussing the harsh nature of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) with co-host Kamaru Usman.
The conversation arose following BKFC’s recent event featuring Mike Perry versus Jeremy Stephens, a match that left both competitors visibly battered. After viewing highlights of the bloodied athletes, Cejudo didn’t mince words about his feelings toward the sport.
“I’d rather get into stripping than to do BKFC, bro,”
Cejudo stated emphatically during the podcast. When pressed by Usman about choosing to “shake ass” over competing bare-knuckle, Triple C doubled down:
“If all these female UFC fighters could do it, why can’t I do it?”
The Olympic gold medalist and former flyweight and bantamweight champion explained his reasoning, emphasizing the particularly harsh nature of bare-knuckle matches.
“That’s a hard way to make a living,”
Cejudo remarked while watching footage from the Perry-Stephens bout. He elaborated on the damaging impact of unpadded punches, noting that even with wrist wraps for support, competitors regularly break their hands.
Usman attempted to challenge his co-host’s stance, questioning whether competing without gloves was truly harder than their decorated careers in MMA. But Cejudo remained firm, distinguishing between MMA and the raw intensity of BKFC.
“This is different,”
he insisted, pointing out that bare-knuckle right hands cause significantly more cutting and damage than gloved punches.
The humorous yet telling exchange highlighted the respect even elite athletes have for BKFC competitors. Despite his decorated resume that includes conquering two weight classes and defeating legends like Demetrious Johnson and Dominick Cruz, Cejudo drew a clear line at bare-knuckle competition.
While the stripping comment was delivered with Cejudo’s characteristic humor, it underscored a serious point about the harshness of BKFC. The former champion did acknowledge Perry’s toughness, noting that
“he walks the talk”
despite the punishment bare-knuckle matches demand.
Cejudo’s colorful statement adds to his reputation for unfiltered commentary since transitioning from active competition to broadcasting. Whether he was entirely serious about the alternative career path remains questionable, but his message was crystal clear: even for one of MMA’s most accomplished names, BKFC represents a bridge too far.
