Aljamain Sterling: Torn Bicep Makes March Date vs. Henry Cejudo Unlikely

Aljamain Sterling’s next banamweight title defense may be delayed due to an injury that has plagued him for months.

Sterling revealed on his Weekly Scraps podcast that a partially torn bicep will make it difficult to make a proposed bout against the returning Henry Cejudo happen in March. The fight has not been officially confirmed by the promotion, but pay-per-view events are scheduled for March 4 in Las Vegas (UFC 285) and March 18 in London (UFC 286), and the pairing has long been rumored to be in the works.

“You guys are probably wondering if we’re going to fight or not,” Sterling said. “The fight is supposed to be myself and Henry Cejudo. I think that’s all said and done. It’s whether or not I can compete with this torn bicep again. Going through another training camp with a torn bicep, against a guy who is stronger in the wrestling department, who will use his wrestling more with inside leg trips, double legs, high crotches, and trying to run the pipe into these lifts. … I’m going to need this bicep to compete at 100 percent.

“And I don’t take Henry Cejudo lightly. Even though I laid out all the ways that I could win and do that for 25 minutes, I have to get in shape, and it’s hard to get in shape when I have this thing compromise me the entire time. Yes, I can run. Yes, I can do sprints. Those are all cool, but I need to make sure I have the grappling endurance to go 25 minutes with a guy like Henry. He’s smaller, so his conditioning is going to be much better, because he’s not going to be cutting as much weight as he’s been cutting. So I’m already compromised going in. … Is it realistic for me to fight in March? I don’t really think it is.”

Sterling is coming off a second-round TKO of T.J. Dillashaw in a bantamweight title bout at UFC 280 this past October. That defense was slightly controversial because Dillashaw entered the contest with a shoulder injury that hindered his ability to compete in the Octagon. Sterling would prefer to avoid a similar situation for himself against Cejudo. Previously, neck surgery and the recovery process from that delayed Sterling’s rematch against Petr Yan for months.

The Serra-Longo Fight Team representative revealed additional details of how the injury has affected him via Twitter.

“I fough [two times} and did two training camps with a partially torn bicep tendon, to keep the division moving for the fans and the UFC,” he wrote. “Now it’s time to properly address it. I’ve stated this before and after the last fight. When is it fair for athletes to look after their body?”

I fought 2x and did 2 training camps with this partially torn bicep tendon, to keep moving the division for the fans and the UFC.

Now it’s time to properly address it. I’ve stated this before AND after the last fight. When is it fair for athletes to look after their body? https://t.co/WA5S7hZVrW

— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) January 10, 2023

If Sterling is going to be sidelined for the foreseeable future, Sean O’Malley announced that he would willing to step up and face Cejudo. O’Malley previously stated that he expected to get the next bantamweight title shot after Sterling and Cejudo fought. Now that timeline could be accelarated.

Is AljoComain fighting Henry or not I’m confused ? He Said his bicep is torn. If that’s the case let me beat up Henry

— Sean O'Malley (@SugaSeanMMA) January 10, 2023