Cejudo Douses Hype: Why Ronda Rousey's Comeback Won't Threaten Kayla Harrison

Henry Cejudo, the 'King of Cringe' and former two-division UFC champion, never shies away from a bold take. His latest? A deep dive into the hypothetical — yet perpetually fascinating — world of a Ronda Rousey MMA comeback. While admitting such a return would set the fighting world ablaze, Cejudo quickly extinguished any notion of 'Rowdy' challenging the current queen of women's MMA, Kayla Harrison.

'If Ronda Rousey was to ever make a comeback, man, that would be probably the biggest comeback in combat sports history,' Cejudo stated on his YouTube channel.

He acknowledged the immense financial draw and the cultural impact Rousey once wielded, predicting a massive pay-per-view success. 'The amount of numbers that she would do would be ridiculous.'

However, the three-time Olympic medalist quickly pivoted from hype to harsh reality when considering a potential clash with PFL superstar Kayla Harrison.

'When it comes to Kayla Harrison, I think Ronda Rousey gets smoked, and here’s why,' Cejudo declared, not mincing words. His reasoning hinges on the dramatic evolution of women's MMA since Rousey's heyday and Harrison's undeniable grappling prowess.

'Kayla Harrison is just too big, too strong, and she’s a better judoka,' Cejudo asserted.

He highlighted Harrison's collegiate wrestling background, emphasizing her superior takedowns and ground control. 'She’s a grappler, she knows how to take you down, and she has better takedowns than Ronda Rousey.' This is a stark claim, given Rousey's own Olympic judo pedigree.

Cejudo believes Rousey's primary weapon – her armbar from dominant positions – would be rendered ineffective against Harrison.

'Ronda’s best weapon was that overhand right, and then she would get into the clinch, throw you, and submit you with an armbar. Kayla Harrison's not going to allow that.' He painted a picture of Harrison overwhelming Rousey with her size and superior ground game, leaving Rousey with no escape.

The former champ also subtly touched upon the mental aspect, suggesting Rousey's confidence might not be what it once was, especially against a physically dominant force like Harrison.

He reiterated that while the spectacle of Rousey's return would be unparalleled, the competitive outcome against Harrison would likely be a foregone conclusion, heavily favoring the PFL standout.

In Cejudo's eyes, the landscape of women's MMA has shifted irrevocably. While Rousey remains a pioneer and an icon, the formidable skillset and physical attributes of fighters like Kayla Harrison represent a new, more dangerous challenge that 'Rowdy' might not be equipped to handle after years away from the elite level of competition.