UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling eked by Henry Cejudo in a close bout Saturday to set up a grudge match with rival Sean O'Malley.
In the UFC 288 main event, Sterling (23-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) successfully defended his title against former champion Cejudo (16-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) with a split decision victory (47-48, 48-47, 48-47). The bantamweight title bout took place at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.