Fresh off his recent successful title defense, Aljamain Sterling, the reigning UFC bantamweight champion, wastes no time as he prepares for his upcoming bout.
While his next fight against Sean O’Malley at UFC 292 on August 19th in TD Garden, Boston, is set in stone, Sterling faces the crucial task of ensuring his body is in optimal condition to meet the challenge head-on.
This highly anticipated showdown is just one of the many captivating matchups announced by UFC president Dana White, promising an exhilarating series of events in the months ahead.
Aljamain Sterling ‘still injured,’ #UFC292 title fight with Sean O’Malley not a guarantee https://t.co/AL33JN6BF5 pic.twitter.com/TigkDrWeVG
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) May 19, 2023
Following his split decision victory over former two-division champion Henry Cejudo at UFC 288 in New Jersey, Aljamain Sterling, the current bantamweight titleholder, finds himself gearing up for his next challenge in record time.
With his upcoming clash against Sean O’Malley on the horizon, Sterling’s main concern lies in allowing his body to recuperate from the strains endured during his intense battle with Cejudo.
Aljamain Sterling preparation is in jeopardy
As the 33 years old navigates the path of his championship reign, Sterling remains hopeful that he can fully heal and adequately prepare himself to face his next formidable adversary.
“I’m still injured with my legs banged up,” Sterling said on his podcast The Weekly Scraps. “My bicep still sucks. I’m supposed to get another MRI on that. I’m trying to get to this fight in August. We’ve talked a little bit about it, and we’ll try to see if we can make it happen. But my leg is still super sensitive to the touch. I hope I’m not ruining anything by me saying that, but guys, I did just fight.”
In a remarkable display of resilience, Aljamain secured his first title defense by claiming a split decision victory over Petr Yan at UFC 273.
Just six months later, he faced former champion TJ Dillashaw, delivering a decisive TKO in the second round to mark his second successful defense.
Surpassing his previous record for a quick turnaround, Sterling now finds himself in a similar situation after enduring a grueling 25-minute battle against Cejudo.
Despite nursing injuries from the intense encounter, Aljamain’s unwavering determination led him to accept the challenge of facing O’Malley in August.
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