Former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo took a break from boasting his own prowess to praise a fellow fighter. Cejudo recently discussed the imminent return of former light heavyweight champ Jon Jones to the UFC, specifically taking on Jones’ long-threatened heavyweight debut, on his YouTube channel. His prediction: that Jones will cement his status as the greatest mixed martial artist of all time.
“It’s gonna put a stamp on top of the stamp on top of the stamp that he is the greatest of all time. When I think of that matchup, especially Francis coming out of an injury and Jon being hungry, being out for three-and-a-half years, I think the ball’s pretty much on Jon’s court.
Cejudo: Jon Jones Will Cement GOAT Status in 2023
It’s not a biased opinion, but just the simple fact that Jon Jones has been injury free, Jon Jones has been training, Jon Jones has had the ability of re-kindling, re-sparking that fire once again. So when I think of 2023, the return and who it is that’ll be Fighter of the Year, I think of a guy like Jon Jones.”
Jon Jones’ sole pro MMA loss was via disqualification. Otherwise, the former champ is undefeated in the ring. Jones has not fought since February 2020, spending the intervening time packing on weight to make the 65-pound jump from light heavyweight to heavyweight. In that time, he has faced a very different kind of fight, being arrested in Las Vegas for domestic violence.
Henry Cejudo, however, believes that Jon Jones’ competitive mentality is what will get him over the edge at 265 pounds. In a hotly anticipated potential matchup between Jones and heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, Henry Cejudo believes that Jon Jones will take the victory.
“The edge on that, I think, is just his competitiveness. Jon Jones is a better competitor than he is a fighter. That’s what he has the difference between him and Francis Ngannou. Francis Ngannou does have something, and it is called power, but when you’re able to fatigue power, and you’re able to do it in a certain way, it changes everything. The bigger they are, the harder they fall.”
In that particular case, Ngannou has ruled the heavyweight division thanks to his record-breaking punching power. Ngannou’s right hand is effectively a fight-ending machine, and withstanding Ngannou’s power will be a true test of Jon Jones’ durability.
Do you agree with Henry “Triple C” Cejudo? Let us know in the comments.
