Phoenix Area Well-Represented in UFC 197; Cejudo and Escudero on the Card
By Francisco Romero
Arizona-based UFC fighters Henry Cejudo and Efrain Escudero will fight in UFC 197 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada this coming Saturday April 23rd.
Cejudo is ranked No. 2 in the flyweight division and is the youngest American wrestler to win an Olympic gold medal. He has no amateur fights and is unbeaten as a professional with four knockouts. If he wins this next fight, he will become the first Olympic gold medalist to claim a UFC title.
“Training is going awesome, I am ready, I fell like a million bucks,” Cejudo told us during an interview.
The former Olympic Gold Medalist will be fighting Demetrious Johnson, a veteran fighter in the flyweight division. Johnson and will enter the ring with a record of 22-2-1.
“Johnson is a very diverse fighter,” Cejudo told us, “I have studied him and I am ready for the fight, I have been training hard for this fight,” he added.
Cejudo who grew up in a humble household to a single mother with six children uses his upbringings to motivate him, “From the struggles to the milestones, it’s what motivates me, it makes me understand how precious life is and I hope to inspire others and be a role model,” the fighter told us.
Cejudo’s record currently stands at 10-0.
Efrain “Hecho en Mexico” Escudero was born in Mexico and trains in Tempe, Arizona. The flyweight
Efrain “Hecho en Mexico” Escudero (left) // Picture Courtesy of ufc.com
fighter has a record of 13 wins by submission with three by knockout and was The Ultimate Fighter 8 champion; he will join Cejudo on the UFC 197 Card.
Escudero will fight Kevin Lee who has a record of 11-2-0.
“I am ready for Lee,” said Escudero. “I have studied my opponent a lot, he will try to dictate the fight, but I am ready for him.”
Born in San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, Mexico, Escudero motivates himself with the pride of being of Mexican descent and fighting at the highest level.
“I was the first Mexican born fighter to have a contract with UFC,” Escudero told us.
The Sonoran native has fought twice in his native country and likes the way the sport is growing south of the border.
“It was a great experience for me fighting in UFC 188 in Mexico, I finished my opponent in: 47 seconds and the crowd just was awesome,” said Escudero.
Cejudo as well as Escudero fight out of the Phoenix area and plan to come back to the Valley victorious.
Follow Us
