Henry Cejudo suddenly appears closer than ever to the title shot he’s been asking for since announcing his comeback.
UFC 280 has come and gone, but what has remained the same is Aljamain Sterling as the UFC bantamweight titleholder. Sterling defeated T.J. Dillashaw in a second round TKO using ground-and-pound strikes. He successfully defended his throne the second time.
Before the fight was even completed, there were many speculations about who Sterling might face next. Along with Dillashaw’s name in the mix was former champion Henry Cejudo who revealed he’d be returning to action later in the year. While that has yet to happen, Cejudo has re-entered the USADA testing pool and is all good to officially come back, it’s just a matter of getting a fight.
“Triple C” has been vocal about his dream of capturing a third UFC title at featherweight, but with the champion Alexander Volkanovski seemingly set to challenge for lightweight gold, Cejudo is now back to targeting his old bantamweight strap.
“It shouldn’t be me honestly,” Cejudo stated on his YouTube Channel about Sterling’s next opponent. “If Sean [O’Malley] had beat this guy (Petr Yan), I’m sure I would have lost my title shot.
“If Aljamain really does want to fight me, let’s go, dude. Personally, I think that he is afraid of me. He’s scared of me, I believe. My opinion is that I am too skilled. He thinks I’m too great for me, so I don’t consider his wrestling a threat .”
Also at UFC 280 this past weekend, the “Sugar Show” delivered, proving many a doubter wrong whether or not he rightfully deserved his split decision nod over the former champion Yan. UFC President Dana White mentioned that Sterling’s winner would be next. O’Malley’s win propels him to the top on the list.
White immediately addressed media after the event and mentioned Cejudo’s identity as an option. Therefore, creating even more intrigue in an already loaded 135-pound weight class.
“Dana White believes this man (O’Malley), won, and he’s going to get the next title shot,” Cejudo stated. “So, with that being said, I’m sitting here licking my fingers because I see a lot of opportunities for myself. “I am the greatest in the world, and I will continue to be so. Those are my two cents.”
Cejudo isn’t worried about Sterling, who is also one of the most highly-credentialed grapplers MMA has seen. Against Dillashaw, Sterling did what he does best, imposing his will on the former two-time champion and dominating him on the ground in all areas.
Unfortunately, Sterling is losing credit to his community because Dillashaw was aware that he had a serious shoulder injury and went into the fight with it. Cejudo believes the win was valid, while also feeling that there is still much to be desired of the champion.
” “It wasn’t really a struggle,” Cejudo stated. “T.J.’s shoulder kept going out, Aljamain got the job done, but I’m still not impressed with this guy. You can hate me, or what you want.
“He beat T.J. but T.J. had his shoulder pulled out, and he was still unable to win. I believe the biggest problem was Aljamain’s inability to see that this guy suffered a shoulder injury. You have to see things as they are. He didn’t even see it. He literally gets tired. It took him that long to beat a dude up that has a dislocated shoulder. He got the job done, he got the stoppage, he got the TKO, but was T.J. healthy? It’s not realistic to say that.”
TOP STORIES
Target. Aljamain Sterling: UFC ‘looking for a last hope of someone’ who can beat me
Prospect. Muhammad Mokaev reveals illness prior to UFC 280 win over Malcolm Gordon: ‘That was 50 percent performance’
Rankings. Islam Makhachev completes unstoppable run to lightweight supremacy, seizes No. 1 spot
Robbery Review. Sean O’Malley vs. Petr Yan at UFC 280
Nope. Dada 5000 ruled out of return in bare-knuckle bout after Florida commission shuts down fight
Rebuttal. Dan Hardy rants about slapfighting, and responds to Dana White with: “I don’t care what you think ‘
Hype. Patricio Pitbull, A.J. McKee to be among the Bellator fighters who will face RIZIN on NYE in Japan
VIDEO STEW
The MMA Hour.
UFC Vegas 63 promo.
Free fight.
Tyson Pedro reactions.
Breaking down Islam’s biggest win.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
The latest DDR looks fun.
10-8 Anderson pic.twitter.com/RChM51eQvL
— MMA mania (@mmamania) October 24, 2022
Party time.
. @BellatorMMA vs. @rizin_PR
History will be made on New Year’s Eve in Japan. pic.twitter.com/z9QdafBdWJ
— Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) October 24, 2022
Bellator vs. Rizin 5 on 5!
Historic showcase set for New Year’s Eve at Saitama Super Arena when stars from Bellator MMA and @Rizin_PR collide.
Kickoff press conference this Wednesday at 6 p.m. JST/5 a.m. ET LIVE on the Bellator YouTube channel pic.twitter.com/Upv6YvSf8R
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) October 24, 2022
Chute Boxe needs to return to Japan! @nobu_sakakibara @rizin_PR @ScottCoker @BellatorMMA
Chute Boxe niLi ruBi Yao gaarimasu @reina01707221 https://t.co/DsrrK7uEU9 pic.twitter.com/1HUWhpentb— Cris Cyborg 1-0 boxer (@criscyborg) October 24, 2022
You don’t get to see it every day.
20 secunds to the end #thequeen#Medusa3 #kneebar pic.twitter.com/BXkW3mPsMg
— Jessica The Queen Delboni (@Jessicadmma) October 23, 2022
Moment.
Islam Makhachev vs. Charles Oliveira (2022)
@easternamigo pic.twitter.com/3gQKX8D4zG
— Fight Pics That Go Hard (@fightpicsgohard) October 24, 2022
Congrats!
My goals have always been tk be @InvictaFights atomweight champion and to earn my BJJ black belt. Now I can say I’ve achieved both of my goals. I’m so honored to have been given my black belt from Gregg DePasquale and be the first female black belt from Long Island MMA pic.twitter.com/KbgpeCLQUv
— Jillian DeCoursey (@lionheartjill) October 24, 2022
GSP things.
Nothing to see here, just Georges St-Pierre casually watching a Medieval battle. pic.twitter.com/WH7UozW0Yi
— Nicole Bosco (@NikBos) October 24, 2022
Submission or knockout.
How could you not a become champion after that…
Smesh Brotherhood:@Hasbulla_NFT x @MAKHACHEVMMA pic.twitter.com/NXYAzNHynq
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) October 24, 2022
Good form.
The friendship we didn’t know we needed
[ via @JackBlack/ TikTok | #UFCOrlando | Dec 3 ] pic.twitter.com/iKpbz6bkhB
— UFC (@ufc) October 24, 2022
Very happy.
— Connoisseur of Combat (@ConOfCombat) October 24, 2022
…six months from now.
Getting ready to bounce in a cage and lump someone around with a load of lump hammers. Millions and even millions of dollars. Light work. pic.twitter.com/fHZxKjweW7
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 24, 2022
Interesting tweet.
This what happens when uguys fight me
Charles easy hollands easy Dp easy let’s see if u can make it n the big leagues for 3 more years rookies pic.twitter.com/b8J8SioWQR— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) October 24, 2022
New king.
Xiang Nan Mei Rong presents #RIZIN39
2022Nian 10Yue 23Ri (Ri )
marinmetsuseFu Gang ADi 12Shi He
taitorumatsuchi
RIZIN MMAruru:5Fen 3R(66.0kg)0(LOSE)#Niu Jiu Xuan Tai Lang
vs
(WIN)#kureberukoike @KoikeKleber 02R 1Fen 29Miao SUB(tatsupuauto:San Jiao Jiao me)RESULTS https://t.co/RWnCrFkBwR#RIZIN #MMA
1 pic.twitter.com/aRcIqJkjEy— Sachiko HOTAKA 10. 23 RIZIN39 Fu Gang Bao Gao Xing Zi (@greco_free) October 25, 2022
Xiang Nan Mei Rong presents #RIZIN39
2022Nian 10Yue 23Ri (Ri )Di 12Shi He
taitorumatsuchi
RIZIN MMAruru:5Fen 3R(66.0kg)0(LOSE)#Niu Jiu Xuan Tai Lang
vs
(WIN)#kureberukoike @KoikeKleber 02R 1Fen 29Miao SUB(tatsupuauto:San Jiao Jiao me)RESULTS https://t.co/RWnCrFkBwR#RIZIN #MMA
7 pic.twitter.com/Xu2miwIS0I— Sachiko HOTAKA 10. 23 RIZIN39 Fu Gang Bao Gao Xing Zi (@greco_free) October 25, 2022
Teamwork.
Dream team pic.twitter.com/pvHHiyudLD
— Jalin Turner (@JalinTurner) October 25, 2022
Con job?
“That’s a con job! “@jimmysmithmma was fired up over TJ Dillashaw choosing to fight with a shoulder he knew was compromised & the end result it had on the #UFC280 co-main event pic.twitter.com/6NHcJQuZ0G
— MMA on SiriusXM (@MMAonSiriusXM) October 25, 2022
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Cody Durden (13-4-1) vs. Carlos Mota (8-1); UFC Vegas 63, Oct. 29
Magomed Magomedkerimov (30-6) vs. Gleison Tibau (33-14); 2022 PFL Championship, Nov. 25
Bryce Mitchell (15-0) vs. Ilia Topuria (12-0); UFC 282, Dec. 10
FINAL THOUGHTS
Stylistically, Cejudo is an infinitely more intriguing matchup for Sterling than O’Malley. O’Malley’s victory was not as easy as it should have been. There are a couple of different directions bantamweight can go, but I think I like Sterling vs. Cejudo and O’Malley vs. Marlon Vera 2 the best.
If we are being completely honest, these two options would be the best if the UFC was looking at the UFC from both a business perspective and a story perspective.
Thank you for reading!
POLL POSITION
Last Week’s Results:
Friday: 62% of 546 total votes answered “Dominick Reyes” when asked, “Who did you score the first fight for?” Jon Jones defeated Reyes via unanimous decision in UFC 247’s main event in Feb. 2020.
Thursday: 54% of 509 total votes answered “Aljamain Sterling” when asked, “Who wins?” Sterling defeated T.J. Dillashaw via second-round TKO in UFC 280’s co-main event.
Wednesday: 68% of 654 total votes answered “Charles Oliveira” when asked, “Who wins this weekend?” Islam Makhachev defeated Oliveira via second-round submission (arm triangle) in UFC 280’s main event.
Tuesday: 55% of 505 total votes answered “No” when asked, “Is Deontay Wilder the most impressive knockout artist in boxing history?”
Monday: 57% of 664 total votes answered “Yes” when asked, “If Charles Oliveira wins at UFC 280, is he the lightweight GOAT?”
Today’s exit poll:
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