By Mike Calimbas (Writer/Photographer) | Photos – Associated Press
2008 Freestyle Wrestling Olympic Gold Medalist to debut vs. Ryan Hollis at LFC 24 in Dallas
HOUSTON, TX, August 23, 2013 – Big news out of Houston this evening with Legacy Fighting Championship announcing on Inside MMA that they have signed 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist wrestler Henry Cejudo to a multi-fight deal with the organization.
The Team USA member competed in the 121 lbs. freestyle wrestling division at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, finishing the games as the youngest American wrestler ever to win a gold medal at just 21 years of age. Prior to that, Henry Cejudo captured four high school state wrestling championships out of Maryvale High School in Phoenix, Arizona. Henry Cejudo retired from the sport after the 2012 Olympic Trials and proceeded to make his way into mixed martial arts, debuting in March of this year. Since then Cejudo has gone on to post an undefeated record of 4-0 with four finishes in his first four fights as a bantamweight (135 lbs.) fighter.
Moving on to fight in front of a wider national audience as part of the Legacy Fighting Championship, Henry Cejudo (4-0) is expected to debut at Legacy FC 24, scheduled for Oct. 11 at the Allen Events Center in Allen, TX just north of Dallas.
The 26 year old Olympian already has his first opponent lined up. He will debut against 24 year old Ryan “Riptide” Hollis (4-2) – a fighter with two Legacy FC pro fights already under his belt and one who at 5’11” poses some interesting challenges for the incoming wrestler in his debut. Hollis will also be the first fighter Cejudo has faced with a winning record as a professional mixed martial artist so look for he’ll face a much bigger test immediately as he transitions into this next phase of his MMA career.
For more of the latest news on the Legacy Fighting Championship along with everything else Texas combat sports related, make sure to keep checking back in here at TXMMA.com.
