The Extraordinary Effort Aljamain Sterling Made For UFC 288 When The Bantamweight Champion Traveled To Colombia For An Experimental Medical Treatment
- Battling a bicep injury
- Stood for an operation that would have delayed the fight
- Unconventional treatment has made him fit
Aljamain Sterling has revealed the extraordinary efforts he made this weekend for UFC 288, with the bantamweight champion turning to unconventional medical treatment to get fit.
‘The Funkmaster’ will defend his bantamweight against rival Henry Cejudo on Sunday, but the New York champ has revealed an injury made the fight almost impossible.
Sterling, who has had a stellar UFC career so far, has been battling a torn bicep for some time. He had already fought through the injury in two title fights and was determined to make it to UFC 288.
However, with the injury not healing as he had hoped, Sterling faced the option of undergoing surgery.
With only a few months left before the fight, surgery would have meant Sterling could have had to postpone the fight for months.
So Sterling turned to an unconventional form of medicine: stem cell therapy.
Aljamain Sterling (left) raced against time to be fit to defend his bantamweight belt against Henry Cejudo at UFC 288
The UFC champ traveled to Colombia for stem cell therapy to recover from a bicep injury and avoid surgery
A fit and excited Sterling shows off his gear during the UFC 288 press conference at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey
The unconventional therapy involves the use of stem cells to treat or prevent diseases or conditions. Stem cells can develop into different types of cells in the body, making them useful for repairing damaged tissue or organs.
Sterling decided to go to a stem cell therapy clinic in Colombia called Bioxcellerator. The clinic is known for its state-of-the-art stem cell procedures and has been used by many athletes, including NFL star Saquon Barkley.
However, with only a few months’ notice, it was difficult for Sterling to get a booking. The earliest appointment he could get was in late March, which would have been too late for him to fight in May.
Fortunately, with the help of some folks at the UFC Performance Institute, Sterling was able to get an early booking. He underwent stem cell therapy for his biceps, along with other gnawing injuries.
“I think it helped a lot. I’m feeling good. I use it quite well,” Sterling said Channel 7.
“There’s still some pain here and there, but it’s much better than before, and hopefully it’s enough to get me through this fight and raise my hand.”
Cejudo roars as he gains weight for title showdown against Sterling at UFC 288. Their fight has been eagerly awaited by fight fans
Sterling also had a range of other nagging injuries treated in Colombia and now he wants the treatment to become more widely available in Western countries
Sterling’s success with stem cell therapy has led him to advocate for its greater availability in the US and other Western countries.
‘We have it here [in the US]but it is nowhere near the same level as in Colombia.
‘Growing it, the way they do it. It’s just next level there at Bioxcellerator, and they do it right.
“I think that’s why they’re one of the best places to go.
“When you look at the approach to the facility, the hospitality, the cleanliness of the place, it’s really top notch and I look forward to going back.”
Along with Sterling vs Cejudo, the main card at UFC 288 will feature a number of other highly anticipated bouts, including the heavyweight clash between Francis Ngannou and Derrick Lewis.
The prelims include the women’s flyweight bout between Joanne Calderwood and Lauren Murphy.
For UFC fans in Australia, the main card starts at 12pm AEST on Sunday, with the prelims at 10am AEST.