The Olympic wrestling champion won a split decision over Johnson in the co-main event of UFC 227 on Saturday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, a feat that not only made him the new flyweight champion of the world, but also the first man to beat Johnson since October 2011. Cejudo’s upset win snapped a stretch of 11 consecutive successful title defenses for Johnson, a company record.
So how did he pull it off? Especially against a foe who dispatched him so swiftly in their first meeting two years ago?
Speaking at the post-fight press conference, Cejudo explained how his upbringing prepared him to not only climb the mountain one more time, but to finally knock off the man sitting atop it.