Ali Abdelaziz predicts championship for Henry Cejudo, Kamaru Usman and 2 other fighters in 2023
Renowned combat sports manager Ali Abdelaziz has named Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo among five athletes he expects will be champions in 2023. The list also includes Islam Makhachev, who was recently crowned champion with a victory over Charles Oliveira at UFC 280.
The two other names on the list are lightweight and light heavyweight title aspirants Beneil Dariush and Magomed Ankalaev. It's pertinent to mention here that all five fighters named by Abdelaziz happen to be his clients. The Dominance MMA CEO wrote on Twitter:
"Islam Machaev, Henry Cejudo, Kamaru Usman, Magomed Ankalaev, Beneil Dariush 2023 🏆"
Islam Machaev, Henry Cejudo, Kamaru Usman, Magomed Ankalaev, Beneil Dariush 2023 🏆
Henry Cejudo has been plotting his comeback with a bantamweight title fight for quite some time now. Cejudo's name was recently dropped by Dana White while discussing the next opponent for bantamweight champ Aljamain Sterling.
Meanwhile, Usman is likely to get an immediate rematch against Leon Edwards considering his dominant title reign. Ankalaev, on the other hand, will face former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz at UFC 282 in December, with the winner most likely to get the next title shot.
From the list, it is only Beneil Dariush whose future remains uncertain. Makhachev set up a clash with Alexander Volkanovski in the immediate aftermath of his UFC 280 title win. Volkanovski has promised to fight Dariush next if he defeats Makhachev in a lightweight title bout.
Ali Abdelaziz has promised to "call the cops" if Alexander Volkanovski gets title shot over Beneil Dariush
Beneil Dariush extended his winning streak to eight with a decision win over surging Polish contender Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 280. Even Islam Makhachev's coach Javier Mendez has agreed that Dariush is more deserving of a lightweight shot than Alexander Volkanovski.
Dariush's manager Ali Abdelaziz seemed hell bent on getting his fighter a title shot going into UFC 280. Abdelaziz promised to "call the cops" on the UFC if Volkanovski gets a title shot before 'Benny'. The Dominance MMA CEO told ESPN's Marc Raimondi:
"If they don't give me this title fight, I'm gonna call the police on them. I'm gonna call the cops on the UFC. What do you mean? Of course, they have to give him the title shot. I understand this is a business. If it's Conor [McGregor] winning... okay, I understand, because it's too much money for me to tell [no] to UFC. But Alexander Volkanovski doesn't sell pay-per-views."
Watch Ali Abdelaziz's interview with ESPN below: