Henry Cejudo is the latest to weigh in on the UFC 320 co-main event.
Cejudo’s once-held UFC Bantamweight title is up for grabs this Saturday as champion Merab Dvalishvili looks to defend the strap against top contender Cory Sandhagen.
Dvalishvili has already defended the title twice this year, defeating the likes of Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 and Sean O’Malley (again) at UFC 316 in June.
As for Sandhagen, this is the American’s first title opportunity. The well-rounded ‘Sandman’ has won four out of his last five fights and is coming off a second-round TKO over two-time flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo.
Sandhagen is oozing confidence that he’ll finish Dvalishvili, threatening to put his knee through the champ’s face on fight night.
So, how does Henry Cejudo, one of Dvalishvili’s former foes, see the title fight playing out?
- READ MORE: Sean O’Malley boldly claims Cory Sandhagen has more skills than ‘Khabib-like’ Merab Dvalishvili
Henry Cejudo picks Cory Sandhagen over Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 320
However, that doesn’t mean the former two-division champion is riding with Dvalishvili in his next fight.
“I’m gonna go more significant strikes for Cory,” Cejudo predicted on the Pound 4 Pound Podcast.
“He’s a technician,” Cejudo said of Sandhagen.
“He knows how to cut the angle. He’s gonna hit him with big strikes. Not just that, but Cory’s a hard dude to put away, man. I don’t know if he’s ever been put away besides Aljo [Aljamain Sterling].
“I think he’s that guy. I think we’re gonna hear ‘And New’, bro, I really do.
“If Cory’s got all the tools, hands, knees, elbows, could Cory have composure and not lose his gas tank? If he can just find the easiest way to get up and just relax, you’re gonna get taken down.
“You are going to be taken down repeatedly. But could you just relax, get up, use your strengths. You almost flip the game plan on Merab.
“The key’s gonna be composure in this fight. Cory’s got better striking,” Cejudo added.
Henry Cejudo says Merab Dvalishvili should’ve headlined UFC 320
Dvalishvili, ranked #3 in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings, will fight under champion Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira at UFC 320.
Cejudo doesn’t agree with the bout order, saying Dvalishvili vs. Sandhagen should headline the pay-per-view card instead of the light heavyweight title rematch.
“They should be the main event,” Cejudo said of Dvalishvili.
“You’re not wrong,” former pound-for-pound king Kamaru Usman responded.
“Merab is a guy that deserves that rub,” Usman added.
“With what Merab has done so far, he’s a super likable guy. He’s done an incredible job on social media of raising awareness, building himself and his brand.
“I think, yeah, I think this would be the time to give a guy like that a shot to really headline,” said Usman.