Mixed martial arts was BANNED in many places around the world not long ago ... but the sport has grown at an electric pace, and Henry Cejudo predicts it'll soon be the biggest sport in the world!

Triple C joined Babcock on the TMZ Sports TV show (airs weekdays on FS1 ) ... where the former champ-champ was asked about the UFC's historic (and massive) $7.7 BILLION media rights deal with Paramount, and whether he could've ever imagined the sport reaching these heights. Getty

"No, I didn't [imagine MMA could get this big]," the 38-year-old future Hall of Famer said.

"But at this point, I think the UFC, the sport of mixed martial arts, will become the biggest sport in the world in the next 10 years, maybe even 15 years."

Bigger than the footballs?!

"Yes."

Will it happen?

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