Henry Cejudo won a grappling contest against Kairat Akhmetov at Alash Pride 108, marking his first victory since 2020, despite recent losses in MMA.
Henry Cejudo just snagged his first win since 2020, but not in the usual MMA way. Instead, this victory came in a grappling match.
The former UFC champ and Olympic gold medalist faced off against Kairat Akhmetov at Alash Pride 108 in Astana, Kazakhstan. This five-minute showdown was a test of skills.
Both fighters, seasoned in MMA, started in a collar tie. Akhmetov tried a front lock choke, but Cejudo, the wrestler, defended it with ease. Then, a perfectly timed inside trip by Cejudo took Akhmetov to the ground.
Cejudo quickly moved to side control but couldn’t capitalize before Akhmetov returned to his feet. In the final minute, Cejudo scored another takedown, but Akhmetov escaped to the top position with seconds to spare.
Ultimately, Cejudo was declared the winner by decision. “I’ve been a big fan of his for a minute,” Cejudo said about Akhmetov. He acknowledged Akhmetov’s status as a world champion.
Cejudo, with a 16-5 MMA record, has lost his last three UFC fights. His last MMA win was a knockout against Dominick Cruz in May 2020. After an eye injury against Song Yadong, he’s considering one final fight.
Akhmetov, boasting a 30-2 MMA record, has notable wins under the ONE banner. He hasn’t fought since defeating Reece McLaren in May 2023, marking his sixth consecutive victory since 2018.