Olympic gold-medal wrestler Henry Cejudo chooses Gladiator Challenge for MMA

With an Olympic gold medal secured, Henry Cejudo has decided he'll cut his teeth on the MMA circuit with the veteran Gladiator Challenge promotion.

Officials from the California-based promotion today announced a multi-fight deal for the 26-year-old fighter, who makes his MMA debut on March 24 at Soboba Casino's outdoor arena in San Jacinto, Calif.

Financial terms of the deal and Cejudo's debut opponent were not disclosed.

As MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) first reported this month, Cejudo plans to debut in the 135-pound bantamweight division.

Since its debut in 1999, Gladiator Challenge has promoted more than 150 events and 2,000 fights. It's featured notables such as Quinton Jackson, Rashad Evans, Urijah Faber, Michael McDonald and others.

"Gladiator Challenge will provide me with a consistent platform to grow as a fighter and has made a substantial commitment to me so that I may gain the necessary experience to become a world champion," stated Cejudo, who won his gold medal in wrestling in 2008 as a 21-year-old. "It was very important to me to join an organization that has an established track record of helping young fighters grow into world class athletes and champions. ... I want to fight for a credible organization and face high caliber opponents. Gladiator Challenge is that organization and has made that commitment to me."

The Los Angeles-born Mexican-American fighter, who won a Copper Gloves boxing tournament in Phoenix in 2010, currently resides in the city, where he attends college as a junior majoring in history.

http://www.mmajunkie.com/news/2013/02/olympic-gold-medal-boxer-henry-cejudo-chooses-gladiator-challenge-for-mma-debut