Aljamain Sterling had a strong reaction to Henry Cejudo’s withdrawal from UFC 292, referring to him as a “dirty little weasel” and criticizing his previous comments about the champion. Cejudo officially pulled out of his scheduled fight against Marlon Vera, citing a tear in his right shoulder that he didn’t want to worsen. In response, Sterling posted a scathing video on his YouTube channel, expressing his disdain for Cejudo’s behavior.
Sterling recalled Cejudo’s earlier remarks about him while he was retired, highlighting the irony of the situation. He labeled Cejudo a “dirty little weasel” for trying to tarnish his reputation and pretending that he didn’t want to fight. Sterling emphasized the significant difference between preparing for a 15-minute fight and a 25-minute championship bout. He criticized Cejudo for trying to portray himself as a tough guy, only to back out due to injury.
The bantamweight champion expressed his disappointment with Cejudo’s attempts to discredit him and emphasized that he was upfront about his own injuries before their previous fight. Sterling questioned Cejudo’s claim to being a savage and asserted that he respected the fans by disclosing his condition before stepping into the octagon. He concluded by asserting that Cejudo was not the true savage he claimed to be.
Cejudo, who retired for three years following his bantamweight title defense over Dominick Cruz at UFC 249, repeatedly hinted at a comeback and made disparaging remarks about Sterling. The two eventually faced off at UFC 288, with Sterling winning by split decision to retain his title. While Cejudo praised Sterling afterward, the champion was not willing to let go of the past grievances.
Sterling made it clear that he disliked people trying to tarnish his name and then pretending that everything was fine. He urged Cejudo to back up his talk with action and criticized him for disappointing Marlon Vera, who was eagerly anticipating their fight. Sterling emphasized that Vera had expressed a strong desire to defeat Cejudo due to his trash-talking while on the sidelines.
Addressing Cejudo’s three-year absence and injury recovery, Sterling pointed out that he had fought with a torn labrum during his early professional career. While acknowledging the difference in competition levels, Sterling highlighted his commitment to fighting through injuries. He reaffirmed his readiness to compete once again, even though the circumstances were not ideal. Sterling asserted that true savagery should be accompanied by accuracy when talking about the king, subtly reminding Cejudo of his loss to him.
Despite Cejudo’s withdrawal, Sterling remains on the card for UFC 292 and is scheduled to defend his title against Sean O’Malley in the main event on August 19th at TD Gardens in Boston.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about UFC 292
Q: Why did Henry Cejudo withdraw from UFC 292?
A: Henry Cejudo withdrew from UFC 292 due to a tear in his right shoulder that he didn’t want to risk exacerbating during the fight.
Q: How did Aljamain Sterling respond to Cejudo’s withdrawal?
A: Aljamain Sterling posted a scathing video on his YouTube page, criticizing Cejudo for his previous comments about the champion while he was retired. Sterling called Cejudo a “dirty little weasel” and questioned his claims of being a tough guy.
Q: Did Sterling and Cejudo have a previous fight?
A: Yes, Sterling and Cejudo fought earlier at UFC 288, where Sterling won a split decision, retaining his title. Cejudo praised Sterling after the fight, but their rivalry and animosity continued.
Q: Who is Aljamain Sterling set to fight at UFC 292?
A: Aljamain Sterling is set to defend his bantamweight title against Sean O’Malley in the main event of UFC 292, scheduled to take place on August 19th at the TD Gardens in Boston.
Q: How did Sterling address his own injuries in the video?
A: Sterling mentioned that he fought with a torn labrum during his early professional career and emphasized his commitment to competing even with injuries. He compared his transparency about his condition to Cejudo’s withdrawal, implying that he was the true savage in the situation.
More about UFC 292
- Aljamain Sterling’s YouTube channel
- UFC 292 event details
- Henry Cejudo’s UFC profile
- Aljamain Sterling’s UFC profile
- Sean O’Malley’s UFC profile
