Credit: Real American Freestyle

Ben Askren has questions about Henry Cejudo’s readiness to wrestle Merab Dvalishvili after blowing an 8-0 lead.

Former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo was well on his way to a dominant win over former UFC rival Merab Dvalishvili on the Real American Freestyle mats earlier this month at RAF Georgia. But despite holding an 8-0 lead, Cejudo faltered down the stretch as Dvalishvili earned a decision win.

It was a stunning collapse for Cejudo in his latest post-UFC venture. The Olympic gold medalist has had an up-and-down run in RAF since announcing his retirement from Mixed Martial Arts at UFC 323.

Ben Askren, who made an inspiring return to combat sports earlier this month in RAF, believes Cejudo didn’t put in ample training for his headliner with Dvalishvili.

Ben Askren questions Henry Cejudo’s prep for Merab Dvalishvili rematch at RAF Georgia

In a recent appearance on the MightyCast podcast, Askren reacted to Cejudo’s head-scratching collapse at RAF Georgia.

“I will say—and I would say this to Henry, I haven’t spoken to him—but man, I had a lung transplant so I think I’ve got an excuse for getting really tired, but my man got really tired,” Askren said of Cejudo.

“He needs to have a good excuse for that because he got so tired he was having a hard time standing on his feet in the third period. But you’ve got to get a few sessions in. You’re going to agree to wrestle; you’ve got to get in there and train a little bit. He was as elite as it gets.

“I think, here’s my guess, Henry says, ‘I don’t need to train. I’m an Olympic champion. I’m going to go put him away.’ And he did, in fact, almost put him away.” (h/t MMA Fighting)

What is your favorite fight from Henry Cejudo’s UFC career? Let us know your thoughts in the comments![

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