Eric Albarracin Discusses UFC Returns of Jon Jones, Henry Cejudo

Within the span of a couple months, both Jon Jones and Henry Cejudo will return to the Octagon following extended layoffs.

As the wrestling coach of the Fight Ready team, Eric Albarracin was able to observe the daily routines of the two former UFC champions as they prepare to make their highly-anticipated comebacks. Jones will face Ciryl Gane for the vacant heavyweight crown at UFC 285 on Saturday, while Cejudo will lock horns with Aljamain Sterling for bantamweight gold at UFC 288 on May 6. Albarracin discussed the prospects for Jones and Cejudo in a recent interview with Sherdog.com.

“Any athlete who goes three years without competing should be an underdog if they return to fight for a belt, but Cejudo and Jones are probably the only exceptions,” he said. One is the only ‘Triple C’ in the history of combat sports, and the other is the GOAT. They don’t fight only for the belt, but to make history.”

After Jones spent a portion of his camp at Fight Ready in Arizona last month, Albarracin came away impressed with the evolution of the former Iowa Central Community College national champion’s wrestling skills.

“Jones has been away from high level wrestling competitions for a long time, but I was amazed by the way he regained his technique while the level of competitors was raised in sparring,” he said. “I saw him doing great wrestling training with [three-time NCAA Division I national champion] J’den Cox.”

While he recognizes that Gane’s style may be challenging for Jones, Albarracin believes the fight will end inside the distance if Jones is able to implement his game plan.

“Gane is a real tough dude,” Albarracin said. “Depending what he brings, it may be a tough one, but if Jones imposes his tactical plan, I truly believe he will finish it in the second or third round.”

As for his longtime student Cejudo, Albarracin is confident that the Olympic gold medalist will succeed against Sterling to set the stage for bigger fights down the road.

“The fight is in May, but Cejudo has been training since last year,” Albarracin said. “Aljamain will face the best version of Cejudo. And after he gets his belt back, he will probably fight [Sean] O’Malley and then attempt to make history once again. This time it’s by becoming the only ‘[Quadruple] C’ in the history of combat sports by beating [Alexander] Volkanovski and conquering the featherweight belt.”