Former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo predicts that Jon Jones will not only win the heavyweight title, but will be the 2023 Fighter of the Year.
Jones (26-1) is expected to make his long awaited return to the octagon this year after nearly three years away from the sport, and Cejudo has lofty expectations for the former light heavyweight titleholder.
Jones is expected to face heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in his return, and ‘Triple C’ believes the matchup favors Jones.
“It’s gonna put a stamp on top of the stamp on top of the stamp that he is the greatest of all time,” Cejudo said on his YouTube channel. “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.
“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 is a better competitor than he is a fighter,” continued Cejudo. “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.”
Henry Cejudo predicts Jon Jones will be 2023 Fighter of the Year