Fans of mixed martial arts are in for a treat at UFC 288 on May 6th, as reigning bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling is set to face off against former champion Henry Cejudo, in what promises to be an extremely competitive battle.
UFC is finalizing a bantamweight title fight between Aljamain Sterling and Henry Cejudo, both fighters announced on social media.
Contracts have not been signed, but the title fight is being targeted for May 6. pic.twitter.com/33RgMaplyb
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) February 21, 2023
Sterling himself announced the highly-anticipated fight on his YouTube channel, sending shockwaves through the MMA world. According to insiders who spoke on condition of anonymity, the fighters have already agreed to the bout, with official contracts expected to be finalized soon. Get ready to witness two of the sport’s fiercest competitors go head-to-head in a showdown that’s not to be missed.
Aljamain Sterling will defend his bantamweight championship against Henry Cejudo at #UFC288 on May 6th. pic.twitter.com/jT0bwSOH5T
— Combat Sports Today 👊 (@CSTodayNews) February 20, 2023
“I can’t wait for this matchup, because I think that it’s two guys that won’t back down, and I think the wrestling might cancel each other out – we will see if I’m able to rag-doll him,” Sterling said on Monday. “We’re going to figure it out in the first five minutes, and from there, we’ll figure out if we want to waste a ton of energy grappling, or do we want to put [our fists] to the test and show the world what high-level grapplers can actually do when it comes to striking.
“I know you guys were impressed with [Kamaru] Usman vs. Colby Covington, that was a striker’s delight, and I would not be surprised if this fight is exactly the same. … Henry, I cannot wait for the challenge, and I know, and I hope, you can’t wait to fight me as well.”
Originally slated for UFC 287, the Sterling-Cejudo showdown had to be postponed due to Cejudo’s health, and Sterling’s injured bicep. But now, with both fighters ready to go, fans can look forward to a battle in early June. Cejudo, who retired from the sport after his last title defense, will no doubt be looking to prove he still has what it takes to dominate in the Octagon.
“It’s kind of crazy how everything kind of comes full circle,” Sterling said earlier this month. “After the fight, I knew I had these injuries coming into the fight, before the rematch with [Petr] Yan, then the T.J. [Dillashaw] fight kind of kicked the can down the road. Then I knew [stem cell treatments at] bioXccelerators are going to be very good. I’m very optimistic about that and I think it’s going to get me back to 100 percent so I can compete against a tough competitor like Triple Zero and remind him that he should have stayed retired.”
Wrestling legend Henry Cejudo, who won Olympic gold in 2008, is set to make his return to the UFC octagon just days after the anniversary of his debut. The 36-year-old fighter temporarily retired from the sport in pursuit of greater financial rewards, but returned to the USADA drug testing pool last year, signaling his intention to come back. Fans can’t wait to see Cejudo in action once again, as he brings his signature toughness and tenacity to the ring. Will the former two-division champ be able to take down his opponent and reestablish his dominance in the sport?