Aljamain Sterling “The Funk Master” and Henry “Triple C” Cejudo will square off in one of the year’s most anticipated fights at UFC 288 in Newark, New Jersey. The weigh-ins for the event saw both fighters make weight, but things took a heated turn when Cejudo’s team began taunting Sterling with chants of “And new! And new!”
Sterling didn’t take kindly to the heckling and fired back with an X-rated response, telling Cejudo’s teammates to have some respect for the sport and let Cejudo do his talking.
Aljamain Sterling and Henry Cejudo Square Off in the Bantamweight Championship at UFC 288.
There has been a lot of buildup to this battle, with both boxers trading verbal jabs at the press conference the previous evening. The staredown between the two rivals only added to the anticipation of this highly-anticipated matchup.
It’s not really possible to predict who will win this bout since most onlookers find it difficult to decide between Cejudo and Sterling. However, current UFC middleweight titleholder Israel Adesanya has made his pick clear – he’s firmly behind Sterling and has stated that he doesn’t like Cejudo.
Aljamain Sterling responds to 'And New' chants from Henry Cejudo's team after weighing in for #UFC288 👀 pic.twitter.com/YrVLZjhdrB
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) May 5, 2023
Fans should anticipate an exciting battle between Sterling and Cejudo at UFC 288 with tensions and feelings running high. Both fighters are well known for their talent and ferocity inside the cage, and they also have great records.
Although Cejudo has a record of 16-3 with 7 knockout victories, Sterling has a 20-3 record with 10 of his victories coming by means of submission. Cejudo, on the other hand, is a skilled striker and a former Olympic gold winner in wrestling, making him a well-rounded opponent for Sterling.
UFC Bantamweight Championship: A Fight for Legacy and Redemption
To put that in perspective, consider how frequently new fighters break through and former champions make comebacks in the world of combat sports. The UFC is arguably the ultimate testing ground, drawing the best of the best to compete and display their skills.
Fighters like Aljamain Sterling and Henry Cejudo bring an intensity and passion to the octagon that is hard to match, and their matchup at UFC 288 is expected to be a true clash of warriors. With striking, grappling, and wrestling skills on display, the fans could be in for a ride.
