Henry Cejudo has spent over two decades carving out a legacy that firmly places him among the greatest fighters of all time. And it’s easy to see why. He first dominated at the national level, then achieved Olympic glory in wrestling, and eventually made his mark in the UFC. Cejudo is one of the few fighters to hold two UFC belts, by defeating elite opponents like Demetrious Johnson and Marlon Moraes, showcasing not just his wrestling but also his evolving striking skills.

Now, even though ‘Triple C’ is past his championship prime, he will step into the Octagon one final time this weekend at UFC 323 before retiring from the sport for good. What many may not realize is that Cejudo is more than a wrestler. Let’s take a closer look at the fighting styles that make Triple C so dangerous inside the cage.

Henry Cejudo’s wrestling foundation and striking development

Henry Cejudo began wrestling at just seven years old, inspired by his older brother, Angel Cejudo, a four-time Arizona Interscholastic Wrestling state champion. From the very beginning, Henry showed immense potential and eventually became a four-time AIA champion himself. He also claimed the Colorado state championships, earned the title of ASICS National High School Wrestler of the Year, and captured both the Junior National Championships and Junior World Championships while still in school.

In addition to his wrestling, Cejudo also developed his striking skills by training in Shotokan Karate. After setbacks against Demetrious Johnson and Joseph Benavidez, he decided to focus on improving his stand-up game. As a result, the Mexican-American fighter showcased sharper footwork, better control of distance, and the ability to set traps, which allowed him to dictate the pace of his fights.

Does Henry Cejudo have a black belt in karate or BJJ?

After suffering two losses, Henry Cejudo realized that relying solely on wrestling would not be enough. Recognizing this, his wrestling coach, Eric Albarracin, sent him to train in karate under Mano Santana to improve his striking.

Cejudo then trained in karate with the Pitbull brothers in Brazil and their coach, Mano Santana. During this period, he earned a yellow belt, which is typically the 9th kyū, just above white. Earning a yellow belt shows that a student has moved beyond the absolute basics.

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He learned fundamental techniques such as basic stances, strikes, and blocks, along with his first basic kata (formal pattern) and simple kihon/kumite drills. Despite this progress, instructors still consider a yellow belt holder a beginner. After yellow, students then progress through orange, green, blue, purple, red, brown, and finally black.

Henry Cejudo’s well-rounded fighting style and technical mastery

After adding karate to his skill set, Henry Cejudo fused it with his wrestling expertise, making him an even more formidable fighter. With this enhanced arsenal, he went on a six-fight win streak and captured two UFC belts before his brief retirement.

During this run, he defeated Wilson Reis, dominated Sergio Pettis, dethroned Demetrious Johnson, and dismantled T.J. Dillashaw, a series of victories that solidified his legacy in combat sports.

Beyond karate, Cejudo also built a strong foundation in boxing through his time in the regional circuits. Even as an amateur, he claimed the Boxing: State of Arizona Bronze Gloves Championship. While fans never got to see him pursue boxing professionally, there is always a possibility that, after retiring from the UFC, Cejudo could step into the boxing ring in the future.