Henry Cejudo Says Those Who Can't Make It in Wrestling Turn to Sambo, Names Khabib Nurmagomedov
Former UFC double champion Henry Cejudo, who won the Olympic gold medal in freestyle wrestling at just 21 years old, recently claimed that Khabib Nurmagomedov and other Dagestani fighters turned to sambo because they couldn’t make it in wrestling.
Cejudo's latest comments suggest that he believes sambo is easier to master than wrestling, and thus those who can't get major success in wrestling turn to sambo. On the Double Coverage Podcast, "Triple C," who is now the Real American Freestyle Lightweight Crossover Champion, said:
“People who do sambo, they can’t make it in wrestling. Khabib and all these dudes, I love them, but I know wrestling’s king in Dagestan. If you can’t make it in wrestling, they go to sambo. … The elite ones, dude, I don’t know if I can hang with them. … For the crossover, I’ll take them all. But for the elite guys, those young dudes, you guys pray for me.”
Check out Henry Cejudo's comments below:
For the unversed, Sambo is a martial art with Soviet origins that combines wrestling, throws, takedowns, and submissions. Meanwhile, combat Sambo also incorporates striking, and headbutts and low blows are legal.
All-time great Fedor Emelianenko, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and other top sambists have also shown how effective the martial art can be. The undefeated Nurmagomedov is a two-time world Sambo champion, and his longtime friend and training buddy Islam Makhachev is a two-time Russian National Combat Sambo gold medalist. Makhachev has also won gold at the FIAS World Combat Sambo Championship.
Check out Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier talking about Sambo by clicking on this link below:
When Khabib Nurmagomedov's Protégé Islam Makhachev called Sambo "Best"
While Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, wrestling, judo, and boxing remain among the most widely used disciplines in MMA, UFC two-division champion and pound-for-pound king Islam Makhachev considers Sambo the most suitable discipline for MMA.
After his UFC 311 submission win over short-notice opponent Renato Moicano, Makhachev told Megan Olivi:
"We have better skills than everybody in the wrestling and grappling departments… I check who has real black belts and who doesn't have a real black belt. Sambo best, I told you guys. Sambo is working very well for the jiu-jitsu. Sorry guys but it's true... I just say the truth."
Check out Islam Makhachev's comments below (0:40):
