(NEW EP!) Demetrious Johnson Prepares Henry Cejudo For Title Fight vs Aljamain Sterling at UFC 288!
MMA insider Ariel Helwani has reported that UFC 288 will feature a bantamweight title battle between the current champion Aljamain “Funk Master” Sterling and former two-weight king Henry “Triple C” Cejudo as its main event. The news has yet to be announced by the promotion.
Earlier on Tuesday, the UFC announced that it would return to Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on May 6. It will be the first event in Newark since Colby “Chaos” Covington and former welterweight champion Robbie “Ruthless” Lawler fought in August 2019.
UFC
2023-03-07 18:00
New Jersey, stand UP 🙌 #UFC288 takes over the @PruCenter May 6th and we’re bringing a HUGE lightweight fight with us! @CharlesDoBronxs vs @BeneilDariush 🔥 [ Register your interest here: https://t.co/ZyP75aSn9y ] https://t.co/J8PHzz3xro
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Together with Sterling-Cejudo, the event will include a highly awaited lightweight showdown between former champion Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira and top contender Beneil “Benny” Dariush. UFC 288 will also feature an exciting featherweight bout between Charles “Air” Jourdain and Kron “Ice Cream Kron” Gracie.
The last time Sterling defended his championship was in September at UFC 280, when he defeated former champion T.J. “Lieutenant Dan” Dillashaw. In contrast, Cejudo is returning to competition for the first time since his May 2020 retirement.
UFC Canada
2023-03-07 18:00
Two MASSIVE fights are official for #UFC288 in New Jersey! @CharlesDoBronxs vs @BeneilDariush Kron Gracie vs 🇨🇦@JourdainAir [ 🎟 register your interest: https://t.co/7TEgFOP2U1 ] https://t.co/u2tQfpwRb6
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“I’m fighting May 6 against Henry Cejudo, and I’m looking forward to the challenge,” the 33-year-old said on his podcast.
At the UFC 285 in Las Vegas, Cejudo and Sterling were seen getting into a heated altercation backstage and had to be separated.
“May 6, I’m going to bury your ass,” Cejudo said. “May 6, I’m going to bury you — corny ass.”
Ariel Helwani
2023-03-07 18:28
Worth noting that Aljo-Cejudo wasn’t on the press release but both men have said that’s the date.
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Sterling responded, “I’m going to make you my little b*tch,” before being hauled away by the guards. Cejudo then replied, “Yo, mama!”
Sterling is on an eight-winning streak. There was some backlash to the outcome of his 2021 title defense, in which he defeated Petr “No Mercy” Yan via disqualification. However, since then, Sterling has managed to cement his reign with victories over Yan in a rematch and Dillashaw through submission.
On the other hand, Cejudo has an impressive 16-2 record in the octagon. He is a two-weight UFC champion, with a flyweight title in 2018 and a bantamweight title the following year. Cejudo retired following his UFC 249 second-round TKO victory against Dominick “The Dominator” Cruz in 2020.
