The legendary duo of Henry Cejudo and Khabib Nurmagomedov stem from the same dominant, relentless ranks of grappling. Interestingly, the two share a strong bond built on mutual respect and admiration. The Hall of Famer has even advised Cejudo on his career, suggesting he take a bantamweight fight before dropping back to challenge flyweight champ Alexandre Pantoja. “We talk about legacy, brother… Can you imagine you come back and win 125?” Khabib once told him. And who can forget the insightful conversation between these two stellar minds during a training session when the Dagestani reflected on the dominance of America, Russia, and Japan in the world of Olympic wrestling?

It is safe to say that both are combat sports legends—Khabib, an undefeated UFC Hall of Famer (29-0), and Cejudo, an Olympic gold medalist and two-division UFC champion. But what if they faced off in a wrestling match? The world of MMA has always strived and welcomed the prospect of “what if” match-ups and this bout is certainly part of it. However, it is unlikely that we would ever see this unfolding in real life. So, we took the help of our very own friendly neighborhood AI chatbot to unravel its views on who would come out on top if these two legends ever collided with each other!

AI weighs in on a wrestling match between Henry Cejudo and Khabib Nurmagomedov

Let’s break down their strengths. On one hand, Henry Cejudo is an Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling, known for his elite-level takedown setups and explosive entries. On the other, Khabib Nurmagomedov is a sambo wrestling specialist with an unbeaten MMA record, mastering chain wrestling and suffocating clinch work.

In a freestyle wrestling match, Henry Cejudo’s speed, precision, and technical prowess would likely give him the edge. However, in a sambo or MMA-style grappling scenario, Khabib’s relentless top control and pressure would be a nightmare for any opponent.

AI predicts: “Cejudo is excellent at defending takedowns, but Khabib thrives in prolonged grappling exchanges, using relentless pressure. If Khabib secures the top position, his ride control will wear down Cejudo. However, in pure freestyle wrestling, where prolonged control is less emphasized, Cejudo holds the advantage.”

Weight difference also plays a key role—Khabib Nurmagomedov competed at 155 lbs, while Cejudo fought at 125-135 lbs, potentially tipping the scales in Khabib’s favor in a grappling exchange. Ultimately, the winner depends on the ruleset. Under Olympic freestyle wrestling rules, Cejudo likely takes it. In an MMA-influenced grappling battle, Khabib’s dominance would shine through.

Moreover, Nurmagomedov once called Cejudo a much better athlete than himself. In a conversation with Mike Tyson and Cejudo, ‘The Eagle’ weighed in on Cejudo’s exceptional combat sports career and stated: “You know I have good numbers too. But honestly, I’m gonna say this, I feel you [Cejudo] little bit higher than me. Like in sports, in levels. You know why? Because of Olympic gold medal. This is like different level,” admitted Khabib Nurmagomedov. Now, let’s have a closer look at the duo’s respective careers!

A comparison between Cejudo and Khabib’s illustrious careers

The 38-year-old Henry Cejudo is a former two-division UFC champion in bantamweight and flyweight, boasting a professional MMA record of 16-4-0. He holds a black belt in Aikido and remains the only fighter in history to have won both an Olympic gold medal and a UFC championship. Apart from this, ‘Triple C’ also has the following achievements under his belt:

• 2007 Pan American Games champion
• 2007 U.S. World Team Trials champion
• Second in the 2006 Junior World Championships
• Second in 2006 U.S. World Team Trials
• Two-time U.S. Nationals champion (2006-07)

Meanwhile, Khabib Nurmagomedov retired with a perfect 29-0 record. With this, he cemented his legacy as one of the greatest fighters in UFC history. A former lightweight champion, he holds the record for the longest title reign in the division and is also a black belt in judo. Interestingly, Cejudo once discussed the retirement philosophy of Khabib’s father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, who believed fighters should step away from the sport by age 33—a principle Khabib himself followed when he retired at that exact age.

After retiring, Khabib honored his father’s dream by coaching and mentoring the next generation of Dagestani fighters, further cementing his legacy beyond the Octagon. Either way, a clash between these two legends would be an unforgettable showdown of elite wrestling skills. Do you agree with AI’s predictions? Let us know what you think in the comment section below!