UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling might not defend his title any time soon. Sterling was widely expected to defend his title against former two-division champ Henry Cejudo this March, but a recent statement on his Weekly Scraps podcast suggests otherwise. A torn bicep, which Sterling has apparently been enduring throughout his title reign, could bring an end to the “Funkmaster” and his time at the top of the 135-pound division.
“I’m going to need this bicep to compete at 100 percent, and I don’t take Henry Cejudo lightly. I’ve got to make sure I’m in shape, and it’s hard to get in shape when I have this thing compromised with me the entire time,” Sterling said on his Weekly Scraps video podcast. “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.”
Aljamain Sterling Announces Torn Bicep Will Prevent Him From Defending Title
Sterling continued, pointing out that he’s endured plenty of flak from fans ever since his controversial ascension to the title.
“If you guys want to be mad at me, it is what it is. I’ve had fans mad at me nonstop for 13 months. It’s water off a duck’s back. I can’t push myself to do something I can’t physically do. I’ve fought twice in a calendar year, and I’ve fought both of those fights compromised and I got through those fights.
It’s the fight before the fight. We’re fighters, we all go in there compromised, but what I’m trying to not have happen is to go through an entire training camp, or almost an entire training camp, waste four to six weeks, maybe seven? Who wants to see that? Why am I going to risk a third time, where if I completely snap it, I have to have surgery.”
Sterling also clarified on Twitter that the injury has affected his last two fights as well. “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?”
With Sterling potentially out of the picture, the division’s no.1 contender, Sean O’Malley took to Twitter to push for his own run at Henry Cejudo.
“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.” Is this the end of Aljamain Sterling’s time at the top? Let us know in the comments.
