May 9, 2020; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Henry Cejudo (red gloves) is interviewed by Joe Rogan after his fight against Dominick Cruz (blue gloves) during UFC 249 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

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UFC News: Henry Cejudo Predicts Fighters In Each Weight Class Who Will Be Champions in 2025!

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.

Also Read: UFC Fight Night Dern vs. Ribas 2: Top Three Fights To Watch Out For!

Women’s Strawweight

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.

AND STILL. 🏆

🇨🇳 Zhang Weili retains her title in a showdown of EPIC proportions! #ChinaStrong #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/UT1HqDgH9j
— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2020

Men’s Flyweight

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.

Henry Cejudo is the first UFC champion to be presented with the new belt 🙌#UFCBrooklyn pic.twitter.com/vH2m0ClHYP
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) January 20, 2019

Women’s Flyweight

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.’

Valentina Shevchenko got the job done at #UFCUruguay 👏

The Flyweight Queen 👸 pic.twitter.com/ore5hTTc9i
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) August 11, 2019

Men’s Bantamweight

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.

“He doesn’t mention my name” 🤐

Umar Nurmagomedov on settling the score with Merab and how Khabib and Islam motivate him

🎤 @carolinepearce #UFC311 | January 18 | LIVE on TNT Sports & discovery+ pic.twitter.com/7qNmdOMx8A
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) January 10, 2025

Women’s Bantamweight

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.

Kayla Harrison sets her sights on UFC GOLD! 🏆 #UFC307 | LIVE on TNT Sports & discovery+ pic.twitter.com/V0MogJXFE1
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) October 6, 2024

Featherweight

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.

Ilia Topuria becomes the first man to finish Max Holloway 😱 #UFC308 pic.twitter.com/aZEGEA7yZK
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) October 26, 2024

Lightweight

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.

WHAT A WAR! ABSOLUTE SCENES! 😱

Islam Makhachev submits Dustin Poirier in the FIFTH ROUND! 🐍 #UFC302 | LIVE on TNT Sports & discovery+ pic.twitter.com/VamD2xEOWN
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) June 2, 2024

Welterweight

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.

BELAL MUHAMMAD is the NEW Welterweight Champion of the world 🏆 #UFC304 | LIVE on TNT Sports & discovery+ pic.twitter.com/AgfpY0x9Uc
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) July 28, 2024

Middleweight

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.

Dricus du Plessis classy in victory! 🏆#UFC305 | Live on TNT Sports & discovery+ pic.twitter.com/Td2vq4fz73
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) August 18, 2024

Light Heavyweight

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.

ALEX PEREIRA DOES IT AGAIN! 🏆👊

Poatan just put on one of the best performances of the year! 👑 #UFC307 | LIVE on TNT Sports & discovery+o pic.twitter.com/p4d34QSQHK
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) October 6, 2024

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.

Heavyweight

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.

Jon Jones eliminates Stipe Miocic with a deadly spinning back-kick and celebrates by doing the Trump Dance… pic.twitter.com/H0uUEq9pf8
— Fight Mate (@FightMate) November 17, 2024

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)

Alex Pereira

Belal Muhammad

Dricus Du Plessis

Henry Cejudo

Ilia Topuria

Islam Makhachev

Jon Jones

Kamaru Usman

Kayla Harrison

Magomed Ankalaev

Manon Fiorot

Tatiana Suarez

Tom Aspinall

UFC

Umar Nurmagomedov

Valentina Shevchenko

Zhang Weili

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!