# From Gold Medal to Crossover Ring: Henry Cejudo Prepares for Boxing Debut in Miami

**By Rosa Delgado**  \nPublished September 24, 2026  \nUpdated September 24, 2026

> Olympic gold medalist and former two-division UFC monarch Henry Cejudo transitions to Misfits Boxing to face 25-year-old Nurideen Shabazz in Miami.

On September 26, Miami’s James L. Knight Arena will feature an intriguing combat sports crossover when former two-division UFC champion and 2008 Olympic freestyle wrestling gold medalist Henry Cejudo makes his boxing debut under the Misfits Boxing banner. The 39-year-old combat icon is set to share the ring with 25-year-old Nurideen Deen the Great Shabazz, a prominent figure in crossover boxing who is aiming to bounce back from a decision loss in December.

## A Multi-Discipline Pivot for Triple C

Cejudo’s shift toward Misfits Boxing comes after his second retirement from mixed martial arts, which followed a unanimous decision loss to Payton Talbott at UFC 323 in December. Rather than walking away from competition altogether, Cejudo promptly returned to freestyle wrestling under the Real American Freestyle (RAF) banner. He earned a win over fellow UFC veteran Urijah Faber at RAF 6 in February before dropping a points decision to Merab Dvalishvili at RAF Georgia in July. With an RAF 12 rematch against Dvalishvili scheduled for Cleveland ahead of his fall fight, Cejudo’s move into striking revisits a discipline with roots going back to his victory at the 2010 Arizona State Copper Gloves amateur tournament.

## Analyzing Shabazz and Misfits Ring Dynamics

In Shabazz, Cejudo encounters an opponent well-accustomed to the atmosphere of Misfits events. Owning a 7-1 record in exhibition matches, the 25-year-old made his promotional debut in 2022 with a first-round knockout victory over Stuart Kellog. Shabazz followed that performance with a knockout victory in his first professional bout against Walid Muhsein later that year, along with an exhibition win over Shazan Idrees at Brandrisk Promotions 4 in February of last year. However, his unblemished run was halted at Misfits Mania in December, where he fell via unanimous decision to Amado Vargas, son of former world champion Fernando Vargas.

## Championship Lineage and Retrospective Context

Cejudo holds one of the most remarkable resumes in modern combat sports. After dropping his initial flyweight championship bid to Demetrious Johnson in 2016, Cejudo secured the flyweight title in their UFC 227 rematch via split decision. He retained the title with a 32-second knockout over T.J. Dillashaw before stepping up to bantamweight at UFC 238, stopping Marlon Moraes for the vacant belt to become one of only four simultaneous two-division champions in UFC history.

While secondary accounts have occasionally misattributed his subsequent bantamweight title defense against Dominick Cruz to UFC 329, official promotional records document that Cejudo defeated Cruz at UFC 249 in Jacksonville, Florida, before announcing his initial retirement. Returning three years later, Cejudo fell just short of reclaiming bantamweight gold in a split-decision loss to Aljamain Sterling before subsequent decision losses to Dvalishvili, Song Yadong, and Talbott brought a close to his octagon career.

### Evidence-Led Forecast: Cejudo vs. Shabazz Tactical Outlook

**Expected Tactical Pattern:** Cejudo’s elite wrestling background provides low-center balance, heavy stance discipline, and sharp entry timing. Expect the 39-year-old to press forward behind a tight guard, utilizing his 2010 Copper Gloves amateur boxing experience to force exchanges inside the squared circle. Shabazz, who holds a 14-year age advantage and extensive Misfits experience, will aim to keep the fight on the outside by deploying lateral movement and an active jab to reset Cejudo’s momentum.

**Decisive Matchup:** Interior leverage versus perimeter range. Shabazz displayed explosive finishing power in earlier outings against Stuart Kellog and Walid Muhsein, but his loss to Amado Vargas revealed difficulties against tight defensive coverage and inside pressure. If Cejudo can step inside Shabazz’s lead hand and dictate the tempo in close quarters, his durability and elite experience should control the narrative.

**Strongest Counter-Case:** Turnaround pacing and athletic wear represent genuine risks for the veteran. Competing in high-intensity wrestling bouts against Merab Dvalishvili while transitioning directly into a boxing camp is a heavy physical ask for a 39-year-old athlete. Shabazz’s sharp timing and established comfort in Misfits contests since 2022 give him a notable operational advantage if the bout turns into a high-volume endurance contest.

**Variables That Change the Read:** Any persistent soreness or fatigue from Cejudo's late-summer wrestling schedule could hamper his head movement and foot speed, allowing Shabazz to accumulate clean strikes from range and control the early scorecards.

## Sources

- [si.com](https://www.si.com/fannation/mma/news/ufc-legend-henry-cejudo-booked-debut-fight-misfits-boxing) — original
- [deportesbereavision.tv](https://deportesbereavision.tv/ufc-returns-to-action-with-stacked-card-headlined-by-interim-lightweight-championship) — original
- [mmafighting.com](https://www.mmafighting.com/boxing/505939/henry-cejudo-makes-misfits-boxing-debut-next-month) — original