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The bantamweight champion is prepared for a blast from the previous. Aljamain Sterling is ready to defend his 135-pound title towards former two-division champion and Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo. The two will meet in the principle occasion of UFC 288 in Newark, New Jersey on May 6, the promotion introduced on Friday.
Sterling, 33, has made two profitable defenses of the title since successful it in March 2021 by disqualification. He beat one other former champion in TJ Dillashaw final October, however that combat was overshadowed by Dillashaw struggling a grotesque shoulder damage within the opening moments. He’s received eight straight fights since dropping by knockout to Marlon Moraes in 2017.
Cejudo, in the meantime, retired from competitors in 2020 after scoring a TKO of Dominick Cruz. It was his solely title protection after successful the vacant title with a TKO of Moraes. Cejudo scored one of many larger upsets in latest reminiscence when he outpointed Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson for the flyweight title in August 2018.
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There had been rumblings of the combat, which had been mentioned between the 2 sides for months, not taking place and Sean O’Malley stepping in to face Sterling. Ultimately, all of these negotiations had been finalized to permit the previous champion to return from three years away and problem for the title.
