Former UFC champion Henry Cejudo believes mixed martial arts (MMA) will surpass all other sports to become the most popular in the world within the next decade and a half.
Speaking on the TMZ Sports TV show, the 38-year-old ex–two-division champion said the growth of the UFC and the sport as a whole has exceeded his expectations. “No, I didn’t [imagine MMA could get this big],” Cejudo admitted.
“But at this point, I think the UFC, the sport of mixed martial arts, will become the biggest sport in the world in the next 10 years, maybe even 15 years.”
The prediction comes shortly after the UFC signed a historic $7.7 billion media rights deal with Paramount, underscoring the sport’s rapid expansion.
Founded in 1993, the UFC struggled in its early years and was banned in several places. In 2001, Dana White and Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta purchased the company for $2 million.
Fifteen years later, it was sold to WME for over $4 billion. Less than a decade after that, its media deal nearly doubled that valuation.
Upcoming fights continue to drive excitement around the sport, including UFC 319, which will feature middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis against undefeated challenger Khamzat Chimaev — a bout already tipped as a possible Fight of the Year contender.
Cejudo also discussed the matchup in detail during the interview and hinted at whether he might return to competition.
