Henry Cejudo
Active 2014–present · rated in 5 editions across 2 divisions · peak overall 91.0
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Henry Cejudo at flyweight
Scouting report
Henry Cejudo won an Olympic gold medal in freestyle wrestling at the 2008 Beijing Games at age 21 before transitioning to MMA. At flyweight from 2014 to 2018, Cejudo built his title run on the wrestling base that carried him to a split-decision win over Demetrious Johnson at UFC 227, ending Johnson's 11-defense title streak. Born in Los Angeles to Mexican immigrant parents, Cejudo's wrestling and wrestling-based boxing outpaced his developing striking gamecraft early in his flyweight run, reflected in his 83 Wrestling.
Peak ratings
By edition
After transitioning from freestyle wrestling, Cejudo made his UFC debut in December 2014 with a decision over Dustin Kimura. In 2015, he won three consecutive flyweight decisions over Chris Cariaso, Chico Camus and Jussier Formiga, the last in Monterrey, earning a title shot. His wrestling base and developing standup are reflected in an 97 Wrestling and 83 Boxing.
In April 2016 at UFC 197, Cejudo was stopped in the first round by Demetrious Johnson, and he lost a split decision to Joseph Benavidez at the TUF 24 Finale. In 2017, he stopped Wilson Reis with punches in round two at UFC 215. His striking technique and takedown control are reflected in an 85 Boxing and 97 Wrestling.
Cejudo dethroned Demetrious Johnson via split decision at UFC 227 in August 2018 to capture the UFC Flyweight Championship in Los Angeles. In January 2019, he defended the belt by knocking out bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw in 32 seconds at UFC on ESPN+ 1 in Brooklyn. His power and decision-making are reflected in his 87 Boxing and 95 Fight IQ.
Henry Cejudo, Olympic wrestler turned two-division champion
Henry Cejudo won an Olympic gold medal in freestyle wrestling in 2008 and later beat Demetrious Johnson to take the flyweight title. He defended it with a first-round finish of T.J. Dillashaw, then moved up and won the bantamweight belt by stopping Marlon Moraes. His mix of wrestling and improving striking made him a champion in two weights.
Cejudo attribute by attribute
Boxing. Improved a great deal. He learned to throw with confidence and uses feints to set up his wrestling.
Kickboxing. Adequate. He mixes in kicks, and his body kick is a useful tool.
Wrestling. The reason for the ranking. Olympic-level technique, pressure and control, especially against the fence.
BJJ. Good. He has enough ground skill to control and finish, though he mostly uses top position.
Strength. Solid for a flyweight, with a physical frame built on years of wrestling.
Durability. Durable and comfortable in exchanges. He absorbs shots and keeps his structure.
Cardio. He holds a high pace and stays powerful in later rounds.
Fight IQ. Very sharp. He picks the moment to go from striking to wrestling and back.
The trait that defines him: Wrestling
An Olympic-level wrestling base means every fight can be dragged into his preferred territory. It works on the fence, in the open and in scrambles. If you want a fighter who never loses control of where the fight happens, take this.
Lowest of his numbers: Strength
Strength is his least impressive stat, and it is only relative. Larger opponents will lean on him, so he depends on technique. Support him with a stronger body if you fear being pushed around.
Henry Cejudo at bantamweight
Scouting report
Cejudo moved up to bantamweight in 2019 and won the vacant title with a third-round TKO of Marlon Moraes at UFC 238, becoming a two-division champion. He defended the belt with a second-round TKO of Dominick Cruz at UFC 249 before announcing his retirement in the cage. Cejudo returned to competition in 2023, and the ufc5-2023 card carries an 83 Wrestling and 88 Fight IQ, reflecting the Olympic-wrestling base he carried over from flyweight.
Peak ratings
By edition
Henry Cejudo at 135: the champ-champ years
Henry Cejudo won Olympic gold in freestyle wrestling in 2008 and later became the bantamweight champion. He stopped Marlon Moraes in 2019 to take the vacant bantamweight belt and stopped Dominick Cruz in 2020 to defend it. Earlier, at flyweight, he had finished TJ Dillashaw in 32 seconds. This card is the height of that run, a wrestler who found real power in his hands. The card is a strong pick because it has almost no holes. Even the lowest rating is respectable, and the best ones cover the areas that matter most against smaller, faster bantamweights.
Bantamweight ratings in context
Boxing. Very good at 86. He throws with speed and mixes punches with level changes.
Kickboxing. Good at 80. He uses kicks mainly to set up other attacks.
Wrestling. His best at 97. His Olympic base gives him excellent control in every scramble.
BJJ. Good at 84. He is capable on the floor and rarely in trouble.
Strength. His lowest at 76. He is not the biggest bantamweight.
Durability. Very good at 88. He takes clean shots well and stays composed.
Cardio. Excellent at 90. He is still moving quickly late in fights.
Fight IQ. Excellent at 94. He adjusts his plan quickly and picks his moments well.
The base of the card: Wrestling
Wrestling at 97 is his top rating and it drives every other phase. He takes fights where he wants them and often finishes them there.
The soft area: Strength
Strength at 76 is the lowest number. Bigger bantamweights can push him around in the clinch, though his technique often makes up for it.
Keep exploring
Closest flyweight profiles to Henry Cejudo, measured by how near their peak attribute ratings sit across all eight categories.
- Askar Askarovbest wrestling 94 · weakest strength 75
- Demetrious Johnsonbest fight iq 99 · weakest strength 74
- Joseph Benavidezbest cardio 90 · weakest strength 75
- Amir Albazibest wrestling 90 · weakest strength 75
- Flyweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Bantamweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Grappling vs striking in the draft: a guide that fits Henry Cejudo's strongest attribute, Wrestling.
Draft Henry Cejudo into your build
Henry Cejudo enters the pool on any spin landing on flyweight or bantamweight between 2014 and present. Spin, draft eight attributes, then simulate 25 fights.
Ratings shown are our own, built from independent research and from how Henry Cejudo is regarded by the MMA community, with earlier MMA video games used only as a starting baseline for the scale. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Henry Cejudo's real-world abilities. See the disclaimer below. Last reviewed 2026-09-30; spot an error? Tell us. Read how we check our write-ups in our editorial standards.