PHOENIX – Long before he became an Olympic gold medalist and two-division UFC champion, Henry Cejudo was a young kid navigating through the struggles and challenges of west Phoenix.

Growing up in Arizona, Cejudo attended 13 different schools that molded him into the person he is today and helped to shape a disciplined mindset that still drives him.

Cejudo grew up in Phoenix’s Maryvale area, a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood with nearly a fifth of the residents living below the poverty line. He is a first-generation American raised by an immigrant mother, Nelly Rico, who helped shape his path.

“Coming out of Maryvale, man, it’s not your typical neighborhood,” said Cejudo, who is preparing to face Payton Talbott (10-1) at UFC 323 on Dec. 6 in Las Vegas. “You know, you got to be from

See Full Page