Henry Cejudo is adding another chapter to an already remarkable combat sports career. The former Olympic gold medalist and two division UFC champion will make his Misfits Boxing debut against influencer boxer Nurideen Shabazz, better known as Deen The Great, on September 26 at the James L. Knight Center in Miami. Misfits Boxing announced the matchup on August 19, with the event set to stream live on DAZN.
The fight represents a major change of direction for Cejudo, who retired from MMA for the second time in December 2025. At 39 years old, the former UFC champion is now preparing to test himself under professional boxing rules.
Henry Cejudo Begins Another Combat Sports Chapter
Henry Cejudo already has an extraordinary résumé across wrestling and mixed martial arts.
Before becoming a UFC champion, he established himself as one of the world’s elite freestyle wrestlers. Cejudo won Olympic gold at the 2008 Beijing Games, becoming one of the youngest American Olympic wrestling champions at the time.
His transition to MMA eventually produced another historic achievement.
Henry Cejudo defeated Demetrious Johnson by split decision at UFC 227 in 2018 to capture the UFC flyweight championship. He later moved to bantamweight and stopped Marlon Moraes at UFC 238 to claim the vacant title.
He then successfully defended the bantamweight championship against Dominick Cruz before stepping away from competition.
Henry Cejudo returned to MMA in 2023 after a three year retirement but struggled to regain his previous position. He suffered defeats against Aljamain Sterling, Merab Dvalishvili and Song Yadong before losing to Peyton Talbott at UFC 323 in December 2025. That defeat marked his second retirement from MMA.
Cejudo Already Has Boxing Experience
Although September 26 will mark Cejudo’s boxing debut, the sport itself is not completely unfamiliar territory.
The former UFC champion competed in amateur boxing after his Olympic wrestling success. He won the Arizona State Copper Gloves tournament in Phoenix in 2010, giving him competitive experience with boxing fundamentals long before his MMA career reached the highest level.
That background could become important against Deen The Great.
Cejudo has spent much of his career developing elite wrestling, but his MMA career also forced him to become a far more complete striker. His ability to combine wrestling pressure with punches and kicks helped him become a two division UFC champion.
Boxing will remove the wrestling and kicking elements that have been central to his success. That makes this matchup a different challenge despite Cejudo’s extensive experience in combat sports.
Deen The Great Brings Influencer Boxing Experience
Standing opposite Cejudo will be one of the more established names from the influencer boxing scene.
Deen The Great has competed regularly under the Misfits Boxing banner and has built a record of 7 wins and 1 loss in exhibition matches, according to MMA Fighting. The 25 year old also has a professional boxing victory on his résumé.
Shabazz first appeared with Misfits in 2022 and quickly established himself as an aggressive and entertaining competitor. He recorded a first round knockout against Stuart Kellogg before later stopping Walid Muhsein in his professional boxing debut.
Deen The Great also previously held the Misfits lightweight championship, adding championship experience to his résumé.
His most recent appearance ended in defeat, however, as Amado Vargas handed him a decision loss at Misfits Mania in December. Vargas is the son of former world champion Fernando Vargas.
A Major Test for Both Fighters
The September matchup creates an unusual meeting between two athletes who have taken very different paths to the boxing ring.
Henry Cejudo arrives with Olympic gold, UFC championship success and years of experience competing against elite MMA fighters. Deen The Great has built his reputation through the rapidly expanding influencer boxing scene and has considerably more recent experience competing under boxing rules.
That difference could make the contest particularly interesting.
Cejudo’s wrestling background could help him with balance, distance management and physical control, but he will not be able to rely on takedowns or grappling once the bell rings. Deen, meanwhile, will have the opportunity to test himself against one of the most decorated combat sports athletes of his generation.
Cejudo Has Another Fight Before Miami
There is also an important wrinkle in Cejudo’s schedule.
Before facing Deen The Great, Cejudo is scheduled to return to wrestling against Merab Dvalishvili at RAF 12 in Cleveland on August 22. The bout will come only weeks before his planned boxing debut.
Cejudo has already competed twice for Real American Freestyle in 2026. He defeated Urijah Faber in February before losing to Dvalishvili on points in July.
Assuming Cejudo leaves that wrestling match without an injury, he will have roughly five weeks to prepare for his first boxing contest.
Cejudo Looks to Add Boxing to an Historic Résumé
Few fighters can match Cejudo’s achievements across multiple combat sports.
He has already won Olympic gold and UFC championships in two weight classes. Now, he has decided to test himself in another discipline.
The former champion’s boxing debut against Deen The Great is scheduled for September 26 at the James L. Knight Center in Miami, with the event streaming on DAZN.
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