Henry Cejudo, a former two-division UFC champion, thinks the organization wants him to “take out” Aljamain Sterling, the current bantamweight champion, later this year. It seems like a date for Sterling’s third championship defense is about to be set after a protracted period of uncertainty.
The champion in 2022 was able to defeat TJ Dillashaw and Petr Yan’s challenges. After stopping the latter in October, “Funk Master” initially intended to make a comeback in the summer of 2023. But, he swiftly changed his mind and suggested that a match with Cejudo would likely take place in the first three months of the following year.
That eventually didn’t happen since Sterling’s return was postponed because of a bicep issue. And while April 8 at UFC 287 in Miami was mentioned as a potential date, the 135-pound king just recently said that the fight will probably be on the UFC 288 show the following month.
For The UFC, Cejudo Is Glad To “Take Away The Trash”
The returning Cejudo supported Sterling’s assertion in a video he posted to his own YouTube account. The former flyweight and bantamweight champion, though, isn’t getting ahead of himself after having several scheduled fights canceled due to a problem on the part of his opponent.
Cejudo asserted that Sterling is reluctant to fight the man the UFC has chosen to end his two-year ban because of the delays in making his comeback bout official.
“As a result, the secret is out. Henry Cejudo vs. Aljamain Sterling,” Cejudo declared. “Guys, we’ve been fighting, It is now May 6. Aljamain Sterling has lost my faith at this point. Why don’t I believe in him? He’s terrified of the “Triple C,” man, that’s all there is to it.
“I believe that the UFC is organizing this fight for a reason. Due to a potential style clash, I believe they think Sean O’Malley could have a better chance with “Triple C” than he would with Aljamain. It doesn’t bother me, Cejudo said.
Moreover, they are attempting to get Triple C to come over and remove the rubbish. You and Ronald MethDonald Sean O’Malley might engage in a really nice fight if you come over here and defeat Aljamain.
Following his victory over Petr Yan, O’Malley was widely viewed as the likely next in line before it was confirmed that Cejudo was making a comeback from retirement. It makes sense that “Sugar” may face the victor of the anticipated May 6 championship bout later in the year after he said he’s willing to wait for a chance at gold.
Also, according to Cejudo, the UFC is hoping that O’Malley loses his first title match inside the Octagon. The comments follow some obvious cues that the company and its bantamweight champion have a strained relationship.
Sterling talked about how he thinks the UFC views him after his successful defense against Dillashaw, noting Dana White’s harsh words about the scoring of his rematch with Yan in April.
Sterling acknowledged in his remarks that it is up to him to win the UFC over to his rule. Perhaps a convincing victory over Cejudo later this year will help in that endeavor.
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