Henry Cejudo Sparks Debate: Could Even a Wrestling Legend Like Abdulrashid Sadullaev Stand a Chance Against Jon Jones in MMA?
Henry Cejudo, the Olympic gold medalist and former two-division UFC world champion, has stirred up a fascinating debate in combat sports. Despite his admiration for Russia’s wrestling pedigree, Cejudo firmly believes that even an Olympic wrestling icon like Abdulrashid Sadullaev wouldn’t be able to defeat Jon Jones inside the MMA cage. Bold opinion? Absolutely. But his reasoning dives deep into what truly separates elite wrestlers from all-around mixed martial artists.
Cejudo recently opened up in a conversation with Red Corner MMA, expressing both respect and realism when discussing Russia’s long-standing influence in combat sports. He revealed that many of his personal heroes hail from Russia—names like Buvaisar Saitiev, Sergei Beloglazov, Abdulrashid Sadullaev, and Besik Kudukhov often inspire him. “The Russian spirit is something special,” Cejudo remarked. “They’ve produced some of the most dominant athletes in fighting history. Most of the figures I’ve looked up to are Russian.”
The Championship Mentality
Among those legends, Abdulrashid Sadullaev—known to fans as “The Tank”—stands out as the only active competitor. The Dagestan-born prodigy has already claimed Olympic gold twice, in the 2016 and 2020 Games. However, because of Russia’s ban from the 2024 Olympics, Sadullaev never got the chance to pursue a third consecutive gold. Still, Cejudo insists that if Sadullaev ever decided to step into MMA, he could absolutely rise to the top—provided he approaches it with strategic patience.
“When you’re an Olympic champion, you think differently. You understand pressure, preparation, and greatness,” Cejudo explained. “If Sadullaev could apply that mindset and take his time learning MMA, he’d eventually become a world champion.”
But here’s where it gets controversial—Cejudo draws the line at Jon Jones. The UFC legend, widely hailed as the greatest fighter in MMA history, presents an entirely different kind of problem. Cejudo, despite being one of wrestling’s biggest advocates, doesn’t think Sadullaev—or any wrestler, for that matter—could simply rely on pure wrestling to defeat someone like “Bones” Jones.
“No, I respect Sadullaev immensely. But wrestling alone won’t cut it against Jon Jones,” Cejudo admitted bluntly. “You need more than wrestling. You need timing, distance control, striking, IQ… everything. Jones isn’t just an athlete, he’s a complete martial artist.”
The Dream Match That Almost Was
Earlier this year, another MMA megastar—Khabib Nurmagomedov—floated the idea of a fantasy matchup between Jon Jones and Abdulrashid Sadullaev. The combat sports world lit up at the concept. Unfortunately, Jones announced his retirement soon after, seemingly putting an end to that dream fight. But now, with Jones reentering the USADA testing pool and publicly hinting at a return, including talks of a massive event slated for June 2026 (rumored to involve the White House, no less), the speculation is heating up again.
Even with all those what-ifs, Cejudo’s stance remains firm: Sadullaev could dominate in MMA’s highest ranks but beating Jones might still be a bridge too far.
So what do you think—could the indomitable “Tank” from Dagestan use his Olympic mindset and world-class wrestling to take down the greatest fighter in MMA history? Or is Jon Jones’ versatility and tactical brilliance simply too much for anyone to overcome? Drop your thoughts below—because this is one debate where fight fans will never see eye to eye.
