‘The division has passed you by’

UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling was requested about the potential of dealing with former two-division titleholder Henry Cejudo, and didn’t maintain again in his response.

Cejudo retired in 2020 after transferring up from the flyweight division and capturing the 135-pound championship by ending Dominick Cruz late within the second spherical of the UFC 249 co-main occasion. Since stepping away from preventing, Cejudo has often teased a return.

UFC president Dana White added to the hypothesis of a Cejudo return through the UFC 280 Put up-Combat Press Convention final month.

“What about Henry Cejudo? That work? You want that?” White stated when requested by a reporter what was subsequent for Sterling.

Through the UFC New York Metropolis Media Day final week, Sterling didn’t appear all that inquisitive about a combat with Cejudo. He questioned whether or not “Triple C” was even critical about returning to the octagon.

“I’d like for Henry to indicate that he’s critical about this. I don’t know. I can’t take the man significantly,” Sterling stated.

“If he really will get again and competes towards anyone to make it go like, okay, this man is for actual – I do perceive what he’s attempting to do. He doesn’t need to take a No. 1 contender combat as a result of if he loses – He would moderately lose in a title shot alternative. I feel that’s the place he’s at proper now.”

Sterling then took intention at Cejudo’s choice to retire in Might 2020.

“Nobody advised you to retire bro. All of us knew you have been going to return again. What silly video games are you taking part in,” stated Sterling. “That’s on you. The division has handed you by. What you probably did three years in the past doesn’t fairly maintain a candle to what everybody’s doing proper now and competing. This recreation, I feel, has sort of handed him.”

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