Aljamain Sterling (image via UFC/YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Aljamain Sterling is reporting that former champ-champ, Henry Cejudo, is likely his next opponent. But, due to an injury, the UFC’s current bantamweight champ isn’t sure when that bout will happen.

Sterling (22-3), who is coming off a quick, TKO win over T.J. Dillashaw in September, recently discussed his next bout via his YouTube channel. While doing so, the 33-year-old fighter expressed reservations about fighting Cejudo in March, on account of a torn bicep (quotes via MMA Junkie).

“You guys are probably wondering if we’re going to fight or not,” Sterling said. “The fight is supposed to be myself and Henry Cejudo. I think that’s all said and done. It’s whether or not I can compete with this torn bicep again. 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 with inside leg trips, double legs, high crotches, and trying to run the pipe with these lifts. … I’m going to need this bicep to compete at 100 percent.

“And I don’t take Henry Cejudo lightly. Even though I laid out all the ways that I could win and do that for 25 minutes, I have to get in shape, and it’s hard to get in shape when I have this thing compromise me the entire time. Yes, I can run. Yes, I can do sprints. Those are all cool, but I need to make sure I have the grappling endurance to go 25 minutes with a guy like Henry. He’s smaller, so his conditioning is going to be much better, because he’s not going to be cutting as much weight as he’s been cutting. So I’m already compromised going in. … Is it realistic for me to fight in March? I don’t really think it is.”

The UFC has not officially announced any fight between Sterling and Cejudo. The latter retired in May, 2020, after defending the bantamweight title with a stoppage win over Dominick Cruz.

Cejudo announced in 2022, however, that he plans to return to the Octagon.