Henry Cejudo thinks Sean Strickland and Alexander Volkanovski shouldn’t share their personal struggles.
Middleweight champion Strickland (28-5 MMA, 15-5 UFC), who defends his title against Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297 on Jan. 20, emotionally broke down in a recent interview with Theo Von when telling stories from what he said was a traumatic childhood.
Cejudo thinks instead of going after Ian Machado Garry and Sean O’Malley’s wives – as well as throwing homophobic slurs when describing Du Plessis’ relationship with his coach – Strickland should use his past trauma in a positive way.
“I wouldn’t share things that bug you if you can’t be an advocate for it – especially to the world,” Cejudo said on his YouTube channel. “You’re talking about peoples’ wives and you’re calling people ‘f*gs’ and things of that nature. How do you not expect somebody else to come at you?”
Cejudo lambasted both Strickland and UFC featherweight champion Volkanovski (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC), who spoke about his mental health issues after his second loss to lightweight champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 294.
“Sean, I hope you can come to the consensus to be able to accept the fact that you’re in this game, bro,” Cejudo said. “Learn how to play. Don’t be (a crying baby). You can’t, man.
“It’s the same thing with Volkanovski. Volkanovski is showing his cards that he goes through anxiety if he doesn’t fight. Bro, what the f*ck? Keep some of that sh*t to yourself. The world doesn’t need to know – especially if it’s going to affect you (in a fight).”
Volkanovski insists he’s OK, and already is booked for his next fight. He will look to make his sixth featherweight title defense when he meets unbeaten Ilia Topuria in the UFC 298 main event Feb. 17 at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
