Sherdog’s Top 10: Greatest Flyweights

3. Henry Cejudo

Cejudo has had an interesting career. Many consider, with considerable justification, that he is one of the greatest fighters ever at any weight, yet it's tricky to rank him at either 125 or 135 pounds. As noted in his bantamweight entry, he was an Olympic gold medalist in wrestling with some of the greatest cardio in the sport's history and eventually developed outstanding, dynamic striking as well. Yet, his high placement on this list is largely based on a single fight. After going undefeated at bantamweight, Cejudo joined the flyweight ranks in 2015 and went 3-0 that year, defeating Chris Cariaso, Chico Camus and Jussier Formiga by decision, the last of which was very clear and should not have been a split. Cejudo then challenged Demetrious Johnson for the throne, and not only did he lose for the first time, but he was knocked out in half a round. He would then lose a second fight in a row to the previous entry on this list, Joseph Benavidez, which, as we noted, is a fight that could have gone either man's way or even been a draw thanks to a point deduction. Since that fight, Cejudo has yet to lose again, going 6-0 before his self-declared retirement. Each win was significant; he knocked out Wilson Reis, earned a decision over the outstanding Sergio Pettis and then had the fight which really made his legend. In a rematch with Johnson, Cejudo showed his tremendous growth as a martial artist since their first encounter and fought on completely even terms with perhaps the greatest fighter ever. Watching it live, I had it at two rounds apiece going into the final round and frankly couldn't decide who won that stanza. Neither could most MMA media or fans, with everyone either having it 48-47 Johnson or 48-47 Cejudo. Regardless, Cejudo won, and that split decision is responsible for him being third on this list, as he had finally dethroned the seemingly unbeatable “Mighty Mouse,” even if the triumph was far from clear. I ranked him fifth, behind Benavidez and Moreno. Cejudo would have only one more fight at flyweight, shocking the reigning UFC bantamweight champ T.J. Dillashaw with a 32-second knockout at 125 pounds. It's hard to rank that win. On the one hand, Dillashaw is an all-time great legend. On the other hand, he is 0-1 at flyweight and was obviously badly depleted from the weight cut. Regardless, after becoming a two-division champ, Cejudo retired, having left a large mark on the sport.

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