Coach Eric Albarracin Defends Henry Cejudo's Call To Be Paid 'Heavyweight Money'

Henry Cejudo became only the fourth fighter in UFC history to simultaneously hold belts in two different weight classes after beating Marlon Moraes for the vacant bantamweight title on Saturday night at UFC 238 in Chicago.

The 125 and now 135 pound champion who also has an Olympic gold medal overcame some adversity, losing the opening round before taking advantage of his tiring opponent to finish him in the third round via TKO.

After the fight, “The Messenger” said he wanted to be paid “heavyweight money” and his coach, Eric Albarracin, agrees.

Albarracin appeared on SiriusXM’s “Fight Nation” (h/t MMA Fighting) and provided some background to his fighter’s comments on wanting to get a bump in pay:

“I believe he will defend the Henry-weight division. The Henry-peso money. I think I told you the story about Demetrious Johnson. He has almost taken a cut to take that fight and that’s why we’re here today. Everybody told him, ‘Do not take this fight. They’re not paying you enough. You’re still on your contract from when you fought Sergio Pettis.’ And he was like, ‘No, if I do not take this fight, it’ll be two years before I get this fight or they’ll get rid of the weight class or something. No, we’re gonna take this fight. I can beat him. It’s now. It’s now or never.’

“So just think, I think I’ve made $80,000 that fight. It’s time to pay up. It’s great that he has 21 pounds of gold on his shoulder and resting on his chest, but he needs to have it in his bank account as well.”

Cejudo’s next fight is up in the air, although he made some requests on who he’d like to fight next including bantamweights Dominick Cruz, Cody Garbrandt, and Urijah Faber. Cejudo has also stated his desire to become a triple champion in the UFC and would like to move up another weight class, this time to the featherweight division, to capture gold there.