After three years in retirement, Henry Cejudo, former UFC double champ and Olympic gold medal winner, returned to action for a shot at his old 135lb title, held for over a year by Aljamain Sterling.
Sterling, a champ often dismissed by fans after winning the bantamweight belt by DQ, was fighting this third straight ex-champ, after dethroning Petr Yan (and winning the pair’s rematch), the putting away T.J. Dillashaw.
A win for Sterling might finally silence some of his numerous critics; for Cejudo, a victory would further cement his legacy, and perhaps push him towards his much-desired featherweight title fight.
Sterling fired a high kick right off the opening bell, going right over top of Cejudo. Sterling continued to press, moving in with a jump knee. But when Sterling closed the distance after a few more attacks he immediately paid for it. Cejudo captured a body lock, and took the champ down with apparent ease.
Aljo would get to his knees, but Cejudo was able to grab the neck. Sterling, however, would make it up, and after an exchange rip a kick to the body that was almost caught. They then tied up against the fence,with Sterling fighting off a takedown, then dropping for one of his own. That failed, and Sterling was nearly reversed, but he escaped and went back in on a single leg. This time, Sterling completed the takedown, and fired knees to the body as “Triple C” worked his way back up. Another takedown, and Sterling took the back; Cejudo made it back up, but ate another knee in the process.
Seeing Sterling take down the Olympic wrestler in the opening frame was unexpected, but it was a close round nonetheless, with Cejudo finding success early and Aljo finishing strong. Round two saw the pair trade kicks, with Cejudo then landing a right and a low kick. Cejudo ripped a high kick, grazing Sterling. The champ later missed a high kick of his own, but connected low. A sloppy takedown attempt by Sterling was easily stuffed however.
As the round wore on, Cejudo began to walk the champ down. But Sterling’s height and length were a problem for Cejudo. He did land a high kick, catching Sterling ducking down, but the champ was no worse for the wear. Cejudo would land a solid right hand at the end of the round, which the pair closed out in a scramble.
Round three found Sterling shooting early, with Cejudo stuffing the attempt. “Triple C” stayed heavy on the neck initially, but eventually let Sterling back up. Another takedown by the champ was stuffed with ease. The pair then wound up in grappling exchange along the fence, with Sterling eventually bringing Cejudo to his knees. On the way up, Aljo landed a well-timed knee.
Back at center, Sterling shot again, and was stuffed again. Cejudo went heavy on the neck again, then let Sterling up. Cejudo fired a right; the pair exchanged leg kicks. With 15 seconds to go in the third, Cejudo then landed a trip takedown, finishing the round in guard.
Sterling started the championship rounds focusing on his low kicks, after being warned by his corner to avoid shooting on Cejudo, who had been stuffing those attempts and leaving Sterling on his knees. Cejudo landed a leg kick of his own, and connected with a right hand, closing the distance. While Sterling was coming in, Cejudo nearly caught him with a knee, in the process of firing a kick. Henry doubled up on his right, then clinched up. Cejudo was pressuring, and Sterling went back to a low-percentage takedown attempt that Cejudo easily defended. A calf kick, however, did damage for Sterling. Those kicks had been one of the champ’s best attacks all fight long, frankly.
A kick caught by Cejudo led to a near takedown, then a clinch; Cejudo looked to be in control only for Sterling to reverse into a double leg, landing it in the final fifteen seconds of the round, much as Cejudo had done in the third.
Entering round five, Henry Cejudo at the very least needed the round, if not a finish. Sterling stayed outside, kicking high then circling out of danger. Sterling would fire a spinning back kick that forced Cejudo to retreat. A left hand connected for Cejudo ahead of the midway mark. A right hand capped off his next combo. The ex-champ was pressing in round five, and stuffed another Sterling takedown attempt. Henry followed that with a couple knees to the body.
Nothing, however, seemed give Cejudo a chance to finish. Time would appear to be the enemy, bar some wonky scorecards. Cejudo would land a late takedown, eliciting a cheer from the pro-Cejudo crowd, but Sterling was back up, and they’d battle it out, trading blows up close to the buzzer.
It would be Sterling winning a split decision in the end — and his next opponent was ready to face off with him in the cage. That would be Sean O’Malley, who pronounced that Sterling had “looked like sh*t” in the fight, and told him he’d need to look better than that.
SEAN O'MALLEY ENTERS THE OCTAGON TO CALL OUT STERLING 😦#UFC288 pic.twitter.com/6WREFjS9cc
— UFC (@ufc) May 7, 2023
After some jawing, the champ ordered “piece of sh*t” O’Malley out of the cage — only for O’Malley and Sterling’s friend and teammate Merab Dvalishvili get into it. The pair were quickly separated, with Sterling promising that a date in September was “signed, sealed, and delivered.”
As for O’Malley and Merab getting into it, the photo below might just by why.
Merab put on O'Malley's jacket 😭 #UFC288 pic.twitter.com/1dH5inwJWz
— UFC (@ufc) May 7, 2023
Official Result: Aljamain Sterling def. Henry Cejudo by split decision (47-48, 48-47, 48-47)
