UFC 249 results: Henry Cejudo retires as champion, finishes Dominick Cruz in second round
Henry Cejudo goes out on top
UFC fights are back.
On Saturday night, May 9, UFC 249 takes place in Jacksonville, Fla. following a two-month hiatus for the promotion.
Inside an empty Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the card features two championship bouts. Interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson defends his belt against Justin Gaethje in the main event.
Bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo welcomes challenger Dominick Cruz in the co-main event, who returns to the octagon for the first time in four years.
Unbeaten in five fights, Cejudo won the bantamweight championship by defeating Marlon Moraes via third-round TKO at UFC 238 in June 2019.
He won the strap by finishing T.J. Dillashaw via TKO in the first round at UFC on ESPN+ 1 in January 2019.
The last time Cruz stepped inside the octagon was in a five-round title fight with Cody Garbrandt in December 2016. Cruz lost his title by unanimous decision at UFC 2017.
Four years later, Cruz is attempting to win the title for a third time.
Here is how the UFC Bantamweight Championship bout between title holder Henry Cejudo and Dominick Cruz went down at UFC 249, including round-by-round scoring. For full results of the event, you can check them out right here.
ROUND 1
Both men meet in the center. Cejudo stays in the middle of the cage as Cruz is bouncing on the outside. Cejudo lands a leg kick early on. Cejudo lands another leg kick and keeps Cruz on the outer part of the cage. Cejudo continues to lands leg kicks, trying to slow Cruz down early. Cejudo lands another inside leg kick. Cejudo throws a leg kick as Cruz comes in. Cejudo falls down, but quickly gets to his feet. Cruz lands a knee, but Cejduo counters with a takedown. Cruz escapes and gets to his feet quickly. Cejudo is right back to work, targeting the legs of Cruz. The champion remains center with Cruz circling near the fence. Cejudo misses with a kick to the body. Cejudo with another clean leg kick. Cruz comes in with a jab, but Cejudo counters with a left hand. Cruz is not checking leg kicks, taking some serious damage.
MyMMANews.com scores it 10-9 for Cejudo
ROUND 2
The two rush out again to start the second round. Cejudo lands a inside leg kick early. The champion then lands a right hand to the body. Cruz starts going low, lands two leg kicks. Cejudo sticks to the script and lands another leg kick. Both fighters land punches in a short exchange. Once again, it’s Cejudo with a leg kick. Cejudo lands inside on the leg kicks, Cruz misses with the right and left on the counter. Cruz lands a straight right, followed by another combination. Cejudo lands an outside leg kick, but Cruz counters with a right hand. Cejudo lands a right hand of his own shortly after. Cruz lands a leg kick and Cejudo loses his balance briefly. Cruz goes for takedown, but Cejudo stuffs it. Cruz lands right hand. Cejudo is cut after the two collide with their heads. Doctor checks the cut, but allows Cejudo to continue. Cejudo lands a head kick and drops Cruz. The champion jumps on top and lands about nine right hands until Peterson steps in. Cruz argues the call right away.
Cejudo makes surprise announcement, tells Joe Rogan he is retiring as champion in the post-fight interview.
THAT'S IT! MESSAGE SENT!
🏆 @HenryCejudo DEFENDS AND STOPS DOMINICK CRUZ! #UFC249 pic.twitter.com/bqWcYPsuDu
— UFC (@ufc) May 10, 2020
Official result: Henry Cejudo def. Dominick Cruz via TKO at 4:58 in the second round.
Triple C out. 🏆🏅🏆@HenryCejudo #UFC249 pic.twitter.com/9iPPLTkb1h
— UFC (@ufc) May 10, 2020
