We know, just like everyone else, you’re eagerly awaiting September 16 to catch the much-anticipated UFC 306 headline event between division king Sean O’Malley and top-ranked contender Merab Dvalishvili. ‘Suga’ will fight to solidify his status in the division, drawing inspiration from his idol Conor McGregor. As the fight approaches, every MMA analyst has weighed in with their predictions, so it was no surprise that former dual champion Henry Cejudo made his own, predicting a win for ‘The Machine.’

However, he surprised everyone by predicting, “But then, once Umar comes in, Umar’s just gonna; he’s gonna have his way with Merab.” This forecast shocked fans, and recently, former UFC fighter Sonnen stepped up to dismiss Cejudo’s comments.

Chael Sonnen dismisses Cejudo’s claim Sean O’Malley vs Merab Dvalishvili fight outcome

In his latest YouTube video, fighter-turned-analyst Chael Sonnen questioned the validity of Henry Cejudo’s prediction, which Cejudo shared in a recent interview with MMA Junkie. Sonnen highlighted that Cejudo’s forecast of Merab Dvalishvili’s victory over Sean O’Malley is influenced by Cejudo’s own experience, having faced ‘The Machine’ in the Octagon and suffering a disappointing loss. Sonnen said, ” He’s taking Merab from his personal experience and noting what Merab is good at. However, there wasn’t actual juxtaposition, he had never felt Sean.”

Later, Sonnen pondered why Henry Cejudo seems so fixated on Umar Nurmagomedov’s potential, questioning whether Cejudo has any personal connection with Umar. He added, ” That had me curious because I was wondering if there was a personal relationship of it those two have trained together. I would love to hear about that, if Henry and Nurmagomedov have trained, sparred, or been in the practice room in any capacity.”

Well, Chael Sonnen’s question was spot-on because, even though Umar Nurmagomedov has proven himself in every test, it doesn’t mean he can surpass seasoned UFC fighters like Merab Dvalishvili. If you’re curious about how this ongoing controversy kicked off, you’re in the right place. Let’s break down exactly what Henry Cejudo said in that interview with MMA Junkie, word for word.

Henry Cejudo’s dire prediction for O’Malley vs Dvalishvili

Olympic wrestler turned MMA fighter Henry Cejudo, after conquering two UFC divisions bid Farewell to the promotion. He then transitioned to an analyst role, appearing on various podcasts like Pound for Pound. Despite his retirement, Cejudo attempted a comeback in 2023, facing then-division king Aljamain Sterling for a title fight, but it failed. He later planned to fight Sterling’s best friend, Merab Dvalishvili, but those plans also met the same fate. The bantamweight title is now held by Sean O’Malley, who defeated Sterling earlier this year at UFC 299 and is now set to defend it against Dvalishvili.

In a recent interview, Cejudo predicted that Dvalishvili is on the brink of becoming the new bantamweight champion. He said, “I just feel like right now, the next person that’s going to be in line to get the title shot is going to be Umar. And this is my prediction. Merab Dvalishvili is gonna stop Sean O’Malley at the Sphere. He’s gonna beat him.” Cejudo didn’t stop there; he also mentioned Umar Nurmagomedov, who recently made a significant impact and claimed that ‘Young Eagle’ could eventually dethrone Dvalishvili and dominate the division until another dissevering challenger emerges.

What do you think of Chael Sonnen’s remark? Do you agree that Henry Cejudo might be overly impressed by the Nurmagomedov name and the reputation it carries? Drop your thoughts below.