Henry Cejudo, the former UFC champion who conquered two weight classes, shared reflections from his travels to Russia. His comments were recorded by Sports Express.
When asked about the mood of Russian cities, he offered a candid assessment. “The most depressing Russian city? Honestly, I enjoyed all my trips to Russia. I think I felt a little bit of this heaviness when I first visited Moscow. That was back in 2006. By 2018, the city had transformed. It had improved, grown brighter, and shed much of the gray that once defined it. When I first came to Russia in 2006, everything looked dull and somber. But then, over the years, things changed,” Cejudo explained.
Throughout his combat sports career, Cejudo tallied 20 MMA bouts, securing 16 wins while absorbing four defeats. In freestyle wrestling, he earned Olympic gold at the 2008 Summer Games. He has also claimed a World Cup title, three Pan American championships, and a Pan American Games championship, underscoring a diverse, world-class athletic résumé.
His most recent fight came against fellow American Aljamain Sterling in May 2023, a match in which Sterling emerged victorious, resulting in Cejudo losing a bid to reclaim his title at that event.
Earlier remarks from Cejudo highlighted the value of his experiences in Russia, noting that he learned a great deal from the Russian wrestling culture and sports environment.