BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Henry Cejudo admits he’s taking somewhat of a hit financially by competing in a UFC title fight on Saturday’s inaugural ESPN+ show rather than on a pay-per-view.

Cejudo (13-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) will put his flyweight belt up for grabs against bantamweight champ T.J. Dillashaw (16-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) in the main event of UFC on ESPN+ 1, which takes place at Barclays Center. The contest will help usher in a new era for the UFC after it signed a multi-year broadcast deal with ESPN last year.

For champions, a key element in earning additional income comes from fighting on pay-per-view cards. A strong-selling show can put much more money in the bank, but Cejudo won’t have that luxury this time around. He said it’s a worthwhile investment, but if he wins, he intends to force change.

“Look at the opportunity they gave me,” Cejudo told reporters, including MMAjunkie, at UFC on ESPN+ 1 open workouts Wednesday night. “It’s a Cinderella story. I beat this guy, resurrect the flyweight division, and that’s all there is to it. I’m willing to sacrifice some of my money for the sake of others. After this fight, let it be known I’m a prizefighter. So Uncle Dana and everybody is going to have to cough up, because I ain’t fighting for free.”

Cejudo knows his division could potentially be at stake against Dillashaw, that contributes to him taking the matchup so seriously. The fight is not only important to his own future but also those who want to fight at 125 pounds under the UFC banner going forward.

“I’m not here just for a victory for myself and to add to my legacy, but also to all the 125 pounders who are someday looking to become a world champ in the UFC,” Cejudo said. “This is much bigger than me.”

Cejudo’s physique ahead of fight night shows he’s put in the hard work. From all indications, Dillashaw has, too, but there are more questions about the 135-pound titleholder moving down a weight class for the first time.

All signs point to Dillashaw making weight without major issue, but if a hiccup occurs, Cejudo said he’ll still be ready to compete.

“Either way, if he doesn’t make the weight I still want to fight him,” Cejudo said. “If he’s five over, three over, two over, Henry Cejudo wants a piece of that snake. It’s the year to skin the snake 2019.”

If Cejudo wins at UFC on ESPN+ 1, he believes he will have all the cards to decide what’s next. Ideally that would be moving up to bantamweight to rematch Dillashaw and get his own chance to become a simultaneous two-division champ. Regardless of what happens, though, Cejudo said he’ll be looking to speak with UFC President Dana White to ensure he’s compensated properly.

“Once I beat him, we’ll talk to Uncle Dana,” Cejudo said. “I feel like once I beat T.J. Dillashaw, it’s like the champ can’t defend his title unless he fights the other champ that beat him. That’s going to be a negotiation stop with the UFC. At the end of the day I’m a prizefighter. I’m looking to get paid whether I fight at ’25 or ’35.”

For more on UFC on ESPN+ 1, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.