Henry Cejudo Once Challenged Valentina Shevchenko to Make UFC History as the First Intergender Champion

Henry Cejudo has done it all — UFC champ in two divisions, Olympic gold medalist in wrestling, and being one of the greatest combat sports athletes of all time. But despite his stacked resume, there was still one title he wanted to add to his collection: UFC’s first-ever intergender championship title.

In 2019, Cejudo playfully called out Valentina Shevchenko, the dominant women’s flyweight champion at the time, for a battle inside the Octagon. It was all in good fun, but the internet ran wild with the idea, and even Shevchenko responded.

So, how did this bizarre challenge come about? And what did Shevchenko have to say about possibly facing ‘Triple C’ in the cage? 

In August 2019, Cejudo expressed feeling “a little jelly” over Shevchenko’s dominance. “I’m calling you out. You can be the next to bend the knee,” he added in a lighthearted video.

Shevchenko’s response was laced with humor as well. “Be careful what you wish for,” she said while sharing a photo of herself, playfully captioned, “Looking for Henry Cejudo.” 

The exchange was all in jest. UFC President Dana White dismissed the banter, calling it the “wackiest s—” he’d ever heard. 

Ultimately, the challenge remained what it truly was, a humorous episode, highlighting the camaraderie and mutual respect between two of the sport’s top athletes. 

Intergender matches do not get authorized by athletic commissions, and therefore it is unlikely that we will ever see it any time in the near future. 

And even if they are given the go-ahead, fans can rest assured knowing that White will never put his name behind such events.

However, this does not mean intergender competitions do not take place outside the UFC. 

Craig Jones did what Cejudo couldn’t

In August 2024, the grappling world buzzed with anticipation as Craig Jones and Gabi Garcia faced off in a groundbreaking intergender Jiu-Jitsu bout at the inaugural Craig Jones Invitational in Las Vegas.

This unique bout stemmed from a playful challenge between the two Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu stars, capturing the attention of fans worldwide.

Garcia had a significant size advantage — standing 6’2″ and weighing 107 kg compared to Jones’ 6’0″ and 93 kg. However, Jones showcased his technical prowess throughout the bout.

He controlled the pace from the onset, and in the second round, secured victory via rear-naked choke. Garcia tapped out just before briefly losing consciousness. Post-match, she expressed her emotions, stating, “I want to cry… but this is about respect and love for the sport.” 

The event wasn’t without controversy. During the pre-fight face-off, Jones unexpectedly kissed Garcia, leading to widespread criticism and calls for the bout’s cancellation. However, after initial protests, the bout proceeded as planned.