Henry Cejudo expects Jon Jones to be 2023 Fighter of the Year, 'put a stamp' on GOAT status

Henry Cejudo sees a big 2023 in store for Jon Jones.

It’s been almost three years since Jones (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC), the former UFC light heavyweight champion, last competed when he edged out Dominick Reyes at UFC 247. Already widely considered one of the greatest fighters of all time, Cejudo thinks Jones can put an end to that argument if he wins a second belt.

That’s what Jones has been working toward after he relinquished his 205-pound title in August 2020. “Bones” has been linked to a bout with UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, and Cejudo thinks there’s no better time for Jones to catch him.

“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.”

Outside of a disqualification blemish on his record, Jones has never lost in MMA. He once cleared out the light heavyweight division, and although he’s had close bouts with the likes of Reyes, Alexander Gustafsson and Thiago Santos, Cejudo lauds him for always finding a way to win.

“The edge on that, I think, is just his competitiveness,” Cejudo said. “Jon Jones is a better competitor than he is a fighter. 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.”