Aljamain Sterling says he will be fighting Henry Cejudo next time out.
After Sterling defended his bantamweight title for the second time, he wasn’t sure who was going to be next. Sean O’Malley looked like the possible next contender but a possible fight against Henry Cejudo or Marlon Vera also made sense.
Aljamain Sterling Makes His Announcement
Yet, after some time, Sterling took to his YouTube channel to reveal he will be fighting Cejudo – and likely will return in March.
“I’m announcing that I am going to fight Henry next,” Sterling said on his YouTube channel (via MMAFighting). “We are targeting March. I will say Ali, brother, it’s done but it’s still not done until there’s ink on the paper but it’s done. But it’s still kind of not done but this is the fight that’s going to happen next. This fight is going to happen. Obviously, you guys saw the face-off with myself and Henry Cejudo. I have no problem fighting Henry. Never ducked anybody a day in my life. The UFC gives me the toughest competition and I always step up to the plate and I always win, except for that one time when I got sent to Neptune against Marlon Moraes. For the most part, I typically win.”
With Aljamain Sterling likely facing Henry Cejudo, he has already started to look into the fight and likes the matchup for him. He believes he is just too well-rounded for ‘Triple C’ while also thinking the layoff will impact him.
“I like the matchup,” Sterling said. “I think it’s going to be a fun fight for the fans. I think, on paper, it will be more competitive, even though I think skill-wise I think [Sean] O’Malley possesses more of a threat of fight ending KO, if that makes sense. Henry can win the fight but I don’t think he wins by finish. I just can’t see myself losing to Henry by finish. That’s always possible but I just don’t see how Henry can find a shot that can put me out unless I ran face-first into his knee like I did against Marlon Moraes, which knock on wood, I don’t think that’s going to happen again.”
As of right now, the UFC has yet to confirm the bantamweight title defense but Aljamain Sterling believes a fight against Cejudo will happen in March.
Would you bet on Aljamain Sterling, or Henry Cejudo?
