5 reasons why Henry Cejudo is the perfect man to defeat Alexander Volkanovski

The absence of Henry Cejudo has left mixed martial arts fans wondering if he will ever return to action. The former two-division titleholder left a huge impression before he parted ways with the UFC.

After avenging his loss to Demetrious Johnson, the newly crowned Henry Cejudo defended his title against two-time bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw. The knockout win against Dillashaw compounded into an even bigger success when the post-fight chaos settled.

TJ Dillashaw was suspended for banned substances and stripped of his bantamweight title following the Henry Cejudo loss.

With the vacant 135-pound gold up for grabs, Henry Cejudo seized the moment like he has done so many times before in his athletic career. 'Triple C' earned the status of two-division champion after defeating Marlon Moraes by TKO in the third round.

As a former Olympic gold medalist, Henry Cejudo is accustomed to the harsh realities of competition, especially at the highest level. After witnessing the title defense Alexander Volkanovski earned against Brian Ortega, Cejudo seems more than ready to come out of retirement and remind everyone of his accolades.

Let's take a closer look at five reasons why Henry Cejudo is the perfect man to defeat Alexander Volkanovski.

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#5. Henry Cejudo is accustomed to high pressure situations

As a former Olympic champion, Henry Cejudo has seen the highest forms of athletic competition. Even as an often undersized athlete, 'Triple C' found a path to victory in high-pressure situations. In his first 135-pound title defense, the two-division champion was tasked with fighting evasive former bantamweight titleholder Dominick Cruz.

The two fought an intense and closely contested bout until the second round, which saw momentum swing in favor of Henry Cejudo. After launching a vicious knee, Cejudo caught Cruz flush and knocked out the former titleholder. Despite protesting the stoppage, the damage was enough for Cejudo to secure his first bantamweight title defense in dramatic fashion.

With a storied combat sports career, the experience Henry Cejudo brings into each contest is enough reason to suggest that he could compete with Alexander Volkanovski. While he would certainly be outsized in a prospective fight, 'Triple C' has never been short on skill and determination.

Henry Cejudo thrives in high-pressure situations. After having his Peroneal nerve affected in his fight against Marlon Moraes, it looked like Cejudo's fire to capture a second title was distinguishing faster than he could stoke it. In the second and third rounds, he showed championship resolve and regathered his composure.

Demonstrating what legends are made of, Henry Cejudo conquered adversity and managed to finish Moraes in the third round. Despite the accumulation of leg kick damage, 'The Messenger' sent a notice to every 135-pound fighter on the roster.

#4. Henry Cejudo and his elite wrestling skills

Henry Cejudo has a wrestling base that could present serious issues for the current 145-pound champion. However, it's important to note just how good Alexander Volkanovski is. The featherweight champion has turned in some jaw-dropping numbers throughout his title reign.

Volkanovski's offensive capabilities are dynamic and hard to prepare for. Overall, the Australian's numbers indicate that he is nearly landing double the strikes that he absorbs. With such a commanding striking differential, he presents a unique and puzzling challenge for any competitor, regardless of weight.

Sporting a 70% takedown defense rate, Alexander Volkanovski's well-rounded style could pose serious problems for Henry Cejudo. However, Cejudo's numbers reflect a strong commitment to pursuing takedowns. With an average clip of over two takedowns per fifteen minutes, the former two-division titleholder is persistent when it comes to following a game plan.

While Volkanovski's submission defense appears to be foolproof, perhaps the wrestling of Henry Cejudo could pose difficulties to the forward pressure the 145-pound champion likes to bring with him to the octagon.

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#3. Henry Cejudo has defeated a higher-weight champion before

The superfight between Henry Cejudo and TJ Dillashaw was fast and furious. Dillashaw was eying a second title in an attempt to become the latest UFC dual-weight world champion. However, in the lead-up, many wondered how the heavier champion would fare in a lighter weight class.

Henry Cejudo responded to that burning question, and Dillashaw's 125-pound showing did not go well. It appears the weight cut may have hindered his ability to absorb damage, but the sound performance Cejudo turned in left no questions unanswered.

Since Henry Cejudo is a natural 125-pound fighter, he appears to have come into the Dillashaw fight refreshed and confident. After flattening Dillashaw with a glancing right hand, Cejudo showed why underestimating an athlete of his caliber is fool's gold.

With the experience of having gone up in weight, the size of Volkanovski will not be a factor for Henry Cejudo. The former Olympian enacts a rapid pace when he opens any fight, and against a champion as seasoned as Volkanovski, surely the start of the game plan will be no different.

#2. Henry Cejudo is a tactician

The tactical awareness Henry Cejudo brings into contests is second to none. Outside the cage, the 34-year-old has adopted the 'king of cringe' persona. Cejudo has been busy on social media, stoking fires and trying to garner marquee fights while he enjoys retirement.

While some of his antics are in good jest, the former two-division champion operates methodically under the UFC banner. When Henry Cejudo arrives to fight, the former champion is dialed in mentally. Just like in his bout with Moraes, those abilities are what enable him to make adaptations in live fights.

The tactics Henry Cejudo employed during his second fight with Demetrious Johnson turned him into a champion. Even though Cejudo was unable to outstrike 'Mighty Mouse', the three takedowns he scored throughout the five-round contest played a key role in achieving victory.

In their first encounter, Cejudo was defeated by TKO when the 125-pound titleholder kept stabbing him with knees to the body. With clear memories of the first fight, Cejudo used tactical awareness to maintain top position. Even with the sparse number of takedowns he scored in his bout against Johnson, he capitalized on the position he fought meticulously for.

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#1. Element of surprise

Henry Cejudo is well-rounded. After going through several turning points in his illustrious UFC career, the former Olympian has a wide array of weapons. Similar to Alexander Volkanovski, there is a completeness to Cejudo's game.

However, the fluidity and shot selection behind Volkanovski's fight IQ is top-notch. The City Kickboxing athlete utilizes feints to great effect. In addition, the side shuffling and the 145-pound titleholder's capacity to glide into striking distance could give Henry Cejudo a fit in heated exchanges.

Henry Cejudo could go toe-to-toe and strike with Volkanovski, or he could employ a wrestling-heavy game plan as he did with 'Mighty Mouse' in 2018. The point is, the former Olympic gold medalist has options and several ways to go about fighting the featherweight champion.

As Alexander Volkanovski's featherweight reign continues, it seems increasingly likely that Henry Cejudo will come out of retirement seeking one more gold belt.