A much-discussed UFC bantamweight bout between Henry Cejudo and Aljamain Sterling is all but booked, both fighters said on social media Tuesday.
Cejudo retired in 2020 after one successful defense of the bantamweight title, but hinted he expected to return.
The challenge in his return, which is expected in May at UFC 288, is to derail Sterling from his current eight-bout winning streak.
“I can’t wait for this matchup, because I think that it’s two guys that won’t back down, and I think the wrestling might cancel each other out — we will see if I’m able to rag-doll him,” Sterling said on his personal YouTube channel. “We’re going to figure it out in the first five minutes, and from there, we’ll figure out if we want to waste a ton of energy grappling, or do we want to put (hands) to the test and show the world what high-level grapplers can actually do when it comes to striking.”
Sterling (22-3) has been sidelined by an arm injury since submitting TJ Dillashaw at UFC 280 in a graphic ending due to Dillashaw attempting to push through a dislocated shoulder.
Cejudo (16-2) is a former gold medal Olympic wrestler and held UFC titles at bantamweight and flyweight. He returned to the UFC drug-testing program last year in a hint of his possible return.
His last fight took place at UFC 249 and ended in the second round with a Cejudo knee to the head of Dominick Cruz.
–Field Level Media