Aljamain Sterling stated on his YouTube channel that he’s nursing another injury, causing his rumoured UFC 285 bout with Henry Cejudo now pushed back.
October 2022 was Sterling’s second defence of his UFC bantamweight title against former 2x UFC Bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw. Since October, Sterling stated he planned not to fight till July, which now does seem to be the case.
During Sterling’s layoff since his second title defence, rumours have been circulating in the community about a potential match-up with Cejudo. However, this match-up was never official, simply just speculation after both fighters had been going back and forth on social media.
Cejudo’s management recently stated it was a “done deal”, though the UFC hadn’t officially matched the fighters together. Since then, Sterling has said on his YouTube channel that he has been suffering from a bicep injury which is why he won’t be fighting on march 4th at UFC 285 in Las Vegas.
Aljamain Sterling Explains Why He Won’t Be Fighting in March
In his most recent YouTube video he has this to say on the matter…
“It’s whether or not I can compete with this torn bicep again,” Sterling said. “Going through another training camp with a torn bicep, against a guy who is stronger in the wrestling department, who will use his wrestling more…I’m going to need this bicep to compete at 100%. And I don’t take Henry Cejudo lightly…is it realistic for me to fight in March? I don’t think it really is.“
Sterling however didn’t provide a detailed breakdown of the injury to his bicep but did however mention that he had been managing the injury leading up to his fight with TJ Dillashaw last October at UFC 280. Despite this Cejudo is now back in full swing for his inevitable match-up with sterling.
Cejudo retired after defending his Bantamweight title in May 2020 against Dominic Cruz since then has started training again. USADA states you must complete 6 months of drug tests before competing which is now coming to an end.
Sterling also teased that there might be an interim title thrown into the mix due to his layoff. Many would assume that would be between Sean O’Malley and Cejudo. O’Malley just beat Petr Yan at UFC 280 on the undercard to Sterling’s last defence and is now the no.1 contender.
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