Michael Bisping names Henry Cejudo among top 5 wrestlers in MMA history ahead of UFC Seattle return
02/21/2025 10:48 AM
As MMA has became more and more popular, wrestling has taken over as the most dominant base and there have been several elite level wrestlers compete in the UFC.
The UFC is home to some of the best wrestlers in combat sports, including the likes of Islam Makhachev, Khamzat Chimaev, and Bo Nickal just to name a few.
The undefeated decorated college wrestler, Nickal recently sparked discussion when he named his top three wrestlers in MMA history, crediting Makhachev, Chimaev, and Khabib Nurmagomedov.
‘The Eagle’ is widely regarded as not only the most dominant wrestler in the sports history but also as the most dominant champion to ever compete in the UFC.
Michael Bisping lists his top 5 wrestlers in UFC history
Although he didn’t make it onto Nickal’s list, this coming weekend, Henry Cejudo returns to the UFC Octagon to take on Song Yadong.
Prior to his incredible UFC career which saw Cejudo capture UFC titles in two weight classes, ‘Triple C’ competed on the American Wrestling team and even won an Olympic Gold medal in 2008.
Ahead of UFC Seattle, UFC Hall of Famer turned commentator, Michael Bisping listed his top five wrestlers in UFC history, including Cejudo in his list.
“We’ve got to have Daniel ‘DC’ Cormier in there. My commentary partner and of course a two weight division champion in the UFC… If I didn’t put him on the list for top 5 wrestlers in MMA, I’m telling you, I would be in for it,” Bisping began his list in a video on his YouTube channel.
Daniel Cormier, like Cejudo, realised huge success in the UFC, becoming simultaneous light heavyweight and heavyweight champion, and he is widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters of all time.
“Number four, we’re gonna go with the wolf, ‘Borz’, Khamzat Chimaev. This man is a force of nature,” Bisping continued.
“Moving on, we’ve got to go with the lightweight champion, the one and only, Islam Makhachev, who was also on Bo Nickal’s list,” the former middleweight champion picked as number three.
The majority of the UFC fanbase considers the Russian to be the best current wrestler in the sport as he has looked unbeatable throughout his UFC tenure.
“At number two, I’m gonna give it to the man that’s in action at UFC Seattle, the king of cringe, the two weight division champion and the Olympic gold medalist in wrestling, Henry Cejudo,” Bisping said.
The 38-year-old will be hoping to showcase his dominant wrestling at least once more in the UFC Octagon as Cejudo looks to exploit Song’s one weakness this weekend.
“No one achieved what this guy achieved, it is ‘The Eagle’, Khabib Nurmagomedov. Obvious choice,” Bisping picked as his number one.
Could Islam Makhachev overtake Khabib Nurmagomedov as the greatest of all time?
Despite the fact that Khabib is a few years removed from his shock MMA retirement, it is extremely unlikely that anyone will overtake him as the greatest wrestler in UFC history.
Although Makhachev continues to assert his dominance on the lightweight division using his wrestling and grappling, he is more well rounded than what his head coach was, relying on his wrestling less.
And because of that, it is unlikely that the 33-year-old will overtake Nurmagomedov, even if he wins a second belt, something that ‘The Eagle’ didn’t do in his career.
