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Aljamain Sterling has provided an update on his Octagon return.
The stacked UFC bantamweight division is waiting to see when the reigning champion will fight next. ‘Funk Master’ last fought in October 2022, defeating TJ Dillashaw with a second-round TKO.
Once Henry Cejudo became the next 135-pound title challenger, Sterling revealed he had a torn bicep, which he wanted to heal before fighting a highly-credentialed grappler like Cejudo.
Sterling considered getting surgery, which would have left him sidelined for several months, but decided to try another recovery method. The 33-year-old chose to use stem cells with the hopes of healing faster. During an episode of his podcast, ‘Funk Master’ gave this update on his injury:
“This [Adesanya vs. Pereira 2] is April 8. I was supposed to be on this card, April 8. Not gonna happen. More than likely gonna be fighting in May. Hopefully, the stem cells do their job, and I actually make a full recovery. I gotta take two like weeks off, and then I can jump right into training camp. So, I’m hoping everything goes well… With that being said, it’s a big card [UFC 287]. I would’ve liked to have been on the rematch card. That would have been fun.”
Cejudo hasn’t fought since May 2020. Since then, the former two-division UFC champion has been building his fanbase through social media and focusing on coaching. He is looking to further his legacy by re-gaining the bantamweight title when Sterling is ready.
Watch Aljamain Sterling discuss his recovery below:
Aljamain Sterling plans to stop drinking to prepare for his fight against Henry Cejudo
Aljamain Sterling isn’t a trouble-making liability while partying, but he does enjoy his time away from training. Sterling’s love for drinking also doesn’t seem to affect his fighting skills, considering he’s reached the top of the mountain. During the same podcast, ‘Funk Master’ had this to say about locking in for his upcoming fight against Henry Cejudo:
“I won’t be drinking at all. That shows you guys how serious I take this ‘cause I enjoy drinking. I really do. Rebecca thinks I enjoy it too much.”
Despite defending the bantamweight title twice in 2022, Sterling has received some backlash for taking his time to recover. With that said, he understands how dangerous Cejudo is and wants to be 100% healthy. Hopefully, the 33-year-old will make a full recovery from the stem cell treatment, making him available to fight in May.
