Henry Cejudo shares his predictions, naming the fighters in each weight class he believes will rise to champion status!
When it comes to predicting stuff in the UFC, few voices carry as much weight as Henry Cejudo’s. The Olympic gold medalist and former two-division UFC champion has been there, done that, and experienced it all.
Having faced many of today’s top fighters and trained with countless others, Cejudo’s insights into the fight game are backed by real experience and sharp analytical skills. Plus, let us be honest. The guy may be known for his cringe-worthy jokes, but his fight IQ is no laughing matter.
Here is the compiled list of his predictions for champions in each weight class.
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Henry Cejudo feels that Zhang Weili will stay the champion. However, he believes that her upcoming fight against Tatiana Suarez might prove his prediction wrong, given her wrestling background.
Cejudo believes his old stomping grounds will see a new king. Having once ruled this division himself, he sees himself as the next champion, dethroning the dominant Alexandre Pantoja. ‘Triple C’ thinks he’ll reclaim his throne in the flyweight division this year, bringing his unique blend of wrestling and striking back to the 125-pound weight class.
For the 125 women’s division, Henry Cejudo is on the fence. He believes in Valentina Shevcecnko’s ability to dominate the division. However, ‘Triple C’ feels that the only person who can dethrone the P4P women’s #1 is going to be Manon Fiorot, and that too is a big ‘If.’
At 135 pounds, Cejudo keeps it in his close circle: either himself or the rising star Umar Nurmagomedov. The Dagestani grappler shares the same dominant wrestling pedigree as his famous cousin Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Henry Cejudo respects that lineage. However, he couldn’t help but add that his own Olympic gold medal wrestling might have something to say about it.
Fellow Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison gets Henry Cejudo’s vote of confidence to turn the tables on the women’s bantamweight throne. He believes Harrison has the skills to defeat the reigning champion Juliana Pena in a title fight setting.
For the featherweight division, Cejudo is all in on Ilia Topuria. After watching Topuria’s impressive championship victory and defense against Max Holloway, he believes the Georgian fighter’s combination of power and technical prowess will be too much for future challengers.
Islam Makhachev gets Henry Cejudo’s vote of confidence to maintain his grip on the lightweight throne. The Dagestani champion’s suffocating grappling and improved striking game make him a tough puzzle for anyone to solve.
The welterweight prediction comes with an interesting twist. Henry Cejudo sees either Belal Muhammad keeping the crown or a potential comeback story from Kamaru Usman. Muhammad’s relentless pressure and improved striking have caught Cejudo’s eye, while he still believes in his podcast mate Usman’s championship pedigree.
Dricus Du Plessis gets the nod at middleweight from Henry Cejudo. The South African fighter’s unconventional style and remarkable cardio have impressed the former champ. He believes there is no one that could take on Du Plessis at 185 pounds.
Alex Pereira’s power and striking credentials make him Henry Cejudo’s pick for light heavyweight supremacy. The Brazilian’s devastating knockout ability has convinced Cejudo that he’ll remain at the top.
Furthermore, ‘Triple C’ sees no threat from Magomed Ankalaev to the reigning light heavyweight champion. This is probably due to Ankalaev’s insistence on striking with Pereira.
For the heavyweight division, Henry Cejudo sticks with Jon Jones. Despite recent challenges and time away from the sport, he believes Jones’s fight IQ and adaptability will keep him at the pinnacle of the division.
He praised Tom Aspinall’s skills and his speed. However, Cejudo believes that Jones’ fight IQ is leaps and bounds ahead of the interim heavyweight champion.
These predictions show just how much faith Cejudo puts in wrestling backgrounds and evolving skill sets. It’s worth noting that he has included himself in two weight classes – classic ‘Triple C’ confidence right there!
(Image Credit: Jasen Vinlove – Imagn Images)
