Aljamain Sterling edges out Henry Cejudo by split decision to RETAIN bantamweight title at UFC 288
Aljamain Sterling defeats Henry Cejudo by split decision to retain the bantamweight title at UFC 288, with champion Sean O’Malley on the tee after a thrilling five-round battle in New Jersey
- Aljamain Sterling defeated Henry Cejudo in a back and forth main event, lasting all 25 minutes
- Cejudo finished well, but it wasn’t enough to convince the judges in his favor, with the champion making a decision
- He alluded to retirement, as Sterling started a fight against Sean O’Malley, who entered the cage
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Aljamain Sterling won by split decision against Henry Cejudo and returned Triple C to retirement at UFC 288.
Cejudo’s grand plans for a bold attempt to move up the ranks and challenge Alexander Volkanovski at featherweight fell through at the first hurdle and he suggested he call it a day.
Fighting in front of a home crowd in New Jersey, “Funk Master” was surprisingly booed, with most fans siding with Cejudo when he returned to action.
The octagonal rust of three years ago seemed to be there, though the former two-weight champion showed signs of the old strength, fighting IQ and wrestling tribe that previously saw him dominate.
Here, however, at 36 years old, he looked a millisecond too slow when it mattered and struggled to close the distance to the wiry, tall Sterling, who spied on him from afar.
More to follow…
Aljamain Sterling retained his title after a back and forth battle with Henry Cejudo went his way via split decision
Sterling was able to operate from a distance, forcing his challenger to come within striking distance, using his height
Cejudo, despite his struggling pedigree, got into it at the time, with Sterling showing off his range of skills.