Aljamain Sterling added his ninth consecutive victory to ruin the night for Henry Cejudo in his great comeback. The Jamaican won a split decision over Triple G last night at UFC 288, who was provoking him all week by hitting a piñata and a cushion with the champion’s face. Sterling retained his bantamweight belt in a tight fight for the third defense of his title.
Sterling came out strong, pressing with kicks, which made Cejudo back down. The Mexican got the takedown, and the Jamaican hugged him in a butterfly guard to try to get him off of him. Cejudo closed his neck with his arm inside. Sterling managed to get up, who went for the legs to send the fight to the ground again. After a struggle, he threw him and punished him with his knee. In the second round, the Jamaican came out again for all, but the intensity dropped as time went by. Answered with a high kick Brow that Sterling felt, wanted to take him to the ground again. He insisted with his kicks down and they exchanged blows.
The Jamaican kicked and Cejudo responded. With a jumping knee, the former champion landed the takedown. From the canvas, Sterling took blows to get up, and trapped him against the fence, kneeing him. They traded blows and the Jamaican went for the takedown again, but Cejudo had very good defense. The champion took advantage of the difference in size with his opponent, connected more volume of blows and came better. He sat Cejudo down and nailed him with some good hands late in the fourth round. He closed out the Sterling clash by keeping a distance during the kick. Cejudo tried to go back to look for the knockdown and break the distanceand he achieved it by grabbing his leg in the last seconds, controlling his back.
He ruined the Jamaican the great return of Henry Cejudo to the UFC After three years. The former champion in two weight divisions failed to win in a close fight that took place for the most part on the ground. Sterling knew how to control the distance and put up some good kicking to earn the split decision win. After the win, Sean O’Malley went up to the octagon to challenge the champion. The tension was so great that the fighters had to be separated. Another big fight is coming up in the company.
