UFC legend Henry Cejudo has confirmed to Mirror Fighting that his comeback fight for the bantamweight title against Aljamain Sterling is a "done deal".
The former two-division world champion and Olympic gold medalist retired on top of the 135lb division in 2020 amid a dispute over pay But he has recently rejoined the USADA pool and announced that he is returning to the octagon, with his manager Ali Abdelaziz first telling MMA Underground that he is facing Sterling for the belt.
And in an exclusive chat with Mirror Fighting at the PFL World Championships in New York City tonight, Cejudo confirmed that the deal has been made for the pair to fight next year. The former two-weight world champion never lost the belt when he retired, nor his flyweight title, and he plans to defend it once before moving up to featherweight to fight for an unprecedented third world title.
Cejudo and Sterling went head-to-head at the Hulu Theatre in Madison Square Garden. Manager Abdelaziz was between the pair at cageside to keep control of the situation.
"I will 100 per cent," Cejudo responded when asked if he will be fighting next year, before proclaiming that the fight is a "done deal" for his comeback. "Eventually [I'll move up to 145lb], but I'd like to defend the belt and then we can talk from there. Not only am I going to try but I'm going to do it. That's it, man, I'm back in the game and someone's about to bend the knee!"
Abdelaziz first claimed the bout had been made in an interview with John Morgan earlier this week, saying:" I can’t wait for my boy, ‘Triple C’ [Cejudo's infamous nickname] to come back. I like Aljo, I consider Aljo as a friend. Aljo is fighting Henry Cejudo – it’s done, it’s just – the UFC said it’s done, he knows it’s done.”
Cejudo told fans that they can expect "fireworks" when he and Sterling clash next year in what would be the American's second title defence after beating former champions Petr Yan and TJ Dillashaw already in his reign as champion. But Sterling has previously indicated that he isn't too keen on the fight, and would rather face Sean O'Malley.
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O'Malley just defeated Petr Yan by way of a controversial split decision to become the division's top contender, and claims to have been told that his next fight will be for the belt. And Sterling believes that O'Malley's star-power makes him a more attractive fight for both he and fans.
“I’m like, no one told you to retire, bro,'” Sterling told in New York earlier this month. “We all knew you were going to come back. Like, what stupid games are you playing? That’s on you. The division has passed you by, and what you’ve done three years ago doesn’t quite hold a candle to what everyone’s doing right now in competing. This game I think has kind of passed him.
“He’s a smart dude, he’s getting older, but that fight doesn’t really move me. Like, I’m not getting up in the morning going, ‘Yeah, I’m fighting Henry Cejudo.’ I fight O’Malley, I’m like, ‘Yeah, this is a big f***ing fight.’ I fight ‘Chito’ Vera, I’m like, ‘This is dangerous and a big f***ing fight.’ With Henry, it’s just like I’m fighting the ‘King of Cringe,’ whatever you want to call him.”
