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Justin Gaethje, Beneil Dariush makeshift fight suggested for UFC 288: ‘The winner gets a title shot’

Justin Gaethje vs Beneil Dariush suggested for UFC 288 the winner get a title shot Former two-weight UFC champion, Henry Cejudo has suggested a potential lightweight title-eliminator between former interim division champion, Justin Gaethje and Beneil Dariush for UFC 288 in two weeks’ time, as the latte now finds hismelf qithout an opponent for the Newark, New Jersey card. Cejudo, a former undisputed flyweight and bantamweight champion, returns to the […]

Former two-weight UFC champion, Henry Cejudo has suggested a potential lightweight title-eliminator between former interim division champion, Justin Gaethje and Beneil Dariush for UFC 288 in two weeks’ time, as the latte now finds hismelf qithout an opponent for the Newark, New Jersey card.

Cejudo, a former undisputed flyweight and bantamweight champion, returns to the Octagon for the first time following his 2020 retirement from active competition atop the pay-per-view event in the opening week of May – taking on undisputed bantamweight titleholder, Aljamain Sterling.

Initially, the flagship event in ‘The Garden State’ was slated to featured a high-stakes, title-eliminator between former champion, Charles Oliveira, and the above-mentioned surging contender, Dariush, however, a minor injury forced the former from proceedings.

The Sao Paulo native confirmed his intentions to potentially return to the Octagon the following month at UFC 289 in British Columbia, Canada, with Dariush receptive to the rebooking. However, as far as Cejudo is concerned, the Iranian should be matched up with former training partner, Justin Gaethje on short notice rather than remain sidelined.

“You guys want to have a great co-main event on a great card – why not Justin Gaethje?” Henry Cejudo said on his YouTube channel. “I guarantee you Justin Gaethje will step in. Do him vs. (Beneil) Dariush, [the] winner gets a title shot. There’s something that needs to be done and I do believe people need to do something to really step up if they really want to be that next person because if not, a whole damn year goes by and then you’re talking about who they’re gonna fight next.”

“As a competitor, if I was in that position I’d be the first person to raise my hand,” Cejudo continued. “‘Hey, I’m here to step up.’”

Justin Gaethje most recently featured just last month at UFC 286

Recently featuring in the co-main event of UFC 286 just last month in London, Arizona contender, Gaethje managed to halt the run of Rafael Fiziev with a back-and-forth majority decision victory.

As for Dariush, the Kings MMA staple has been sidelined since he landed another impressive victory at UFC 280 last October, defeating Polish contender, Mateusz Gamrot in a unanimous decision over the course of three rounds.

Following the cancellation of the UFC 288 co-headliner, the likes of Gilbert Burns has offered to fight former interim champion, Dustin Poirer in a welterweight affair on short-notice.

And one-time middleweight title challenger, Paulo Costa has offered to return to the light heavyweight limit for a brief excursion against former undisputed champion, Jan Blachowicz at the Prudential Center event.

Henry Cejudo betting favorite to clinch title from Aljamain Sterling at UFC 288 in May

Despite retiring from mixed martial arts over three years ago, former two-weight UFC champion, Henry Cejudo, has opened as a betting favorite to reclaim bantamweight gold next month against current champion, Aljamain Sterling at UFC 288. Cejudo, a former undisputed bantamweight and flyweight gold holder under the banner of the UFC, is booked to take […]

Cejudo, a former undisputed bantamweight and flyweight gold holder under the banner of the UFC, is booked to take main event honors at UFC 288 in the opening week of May in Newark, New Jersey – snapping a three-year-plus hiatus from active competition at the Prudential Center.

Last competing back in May 2020, Henry Cejudo, an Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling to boot, most recently knocked back former two-time bantamweight best, Dominick Cruz with a second round TKO at UFC 249.

And in the immediate aftermath of the victory, Henry Cejudo, who lofted both flyweight and bantamweight gold inside the Octagon in Jacksonville, Florida – confirmed his intentions to retire from mixed martial arts competition with immediate effect, relinquishing both championships in the weeks after his win.

However, booked to headline UFC 288 in a months’ time in New Jersey, former duel-weight champion, Henry Cejudo, who will ride a six-fight long run of victories in his comeback outing against Sterling – both opened and currently sits as a betting favorite over the Uniondale champion.

Currently, many markets – including those who accommodate you to bet on dota 2 with thunderpick, have listed Henry Cejudo as a narrow betting favorite (-120) to triumphantly return with a title win over champion, Sterling, who sits as a betting underdog (+100) at the time of publication.

Henry Cejudo’s first title victory came back in 2018

16-2 as a professional, Los Angeles native, Henry Cejudo’s first taste of Octagon gold came in the form of a stunning rematch win over inaugural flyweight champion, Demetrious Johnson in a summer 2018 re-run, defeating the decorated Kentucky native in a close, split decision victory.

Meeting common-foe, T.J. Dillashaw – who then laid claim to the undisputed bantamweight title in his first attempted defense of the flyweight crown on the promotion’s ESPN network debut, Henry Cejudo dispatched the Angels Camp veteran with a blistering 32-second knockout in 2019.

Winning the vacant bantamweight title back in June of that year, Henry Cejudo rallied to take out recent PFL feature, Marlon Moraes, stopping the Nova Friburgo striker with a series of ground strikes in round three after pressing the Brazilian with relentless wrestling.

In search of Octagon history next month, the defending bantamweight champion, Sterling will look to become the first division champion to defend his title successfully on three consecutive occasions.

Winning undisputed gold in debated fashion courtesy of an infamous disqualification victory over Dudinka native, Petr Yan back in March 2021, Sterling has since rematched the Russian in a title unification fight, defending and unifying the division belts.

In his most recent walk, Sterling managed to add to his dizzing winning run, notching consecutive victory number eight with a second round ground strikes win over an injury hampered Dillashaw on ‘Fight Island’ in Abu Dhabi, UAE in October of last year at UFC 280.

Charles Oliveira makes his Octagon return at UFC 288

Also appearing on the card in another rather high-profile pairing; UFC 280 headliner, Charles Oliveira makes his return for the first time since seeing his 12-fight division winning run halted by current lightweight titleholder, Islam Makhachev.

Attempting to kickstart another title siege, the former undisputed kingpin is tasked with hitting the brakes on the surging, Beneil Dariush’s own pursuit, with the duo taking co-main event honors in ‘The Garden State’.

Submitting to a second round arm-triangle in a vacant lightweight title fight against Makhachev back in October of last year, Oliveira had successfully defended the crown in a submission win over Dustin Poirier, before dropping the belt to the scales before submitting another former interim titleholder, Justin Gaethje, back in May of last year.

As for Dariush, the Iranian-born contender has embarked on an eight-fight winning run since a 2018 KO loss to Alexander Hernandez, most recently defeating Polish favorite, Mateusz Gamrot – also on that aforenoted UFC 280 flagship event last October.

And at the time of publication, the Sao Paulo native – a perennial underdog, continues in that vein at UFC 288, sitting as a narrow betting underdog (+106) to defeat the favorite (-126) Dariush on May 6. in Newark.

Winning vacant lightweight title spoils himself back in May 2021, Oliveira, the most prolific submission artist and outright finisher in the antiquity of the UFC, rallied from a poor opening round against Michael Chandler – stopping The Ultimate Fighter 31 opposing coach with a stunning second round KO in the opening exchanges of the frame.

Returning to the Octagon in December of that annum in his sole walk as a defending gold holder, Oliveira, in typical ‘Do Bronx’ fashion to boot – survived an adversity filled opening frame, eventually scaling the above-mentioned, Poirier’s back in the third round – latching onto a standing rear-naked choke victory.

Sean O’Malley confirms he will fight Aljamain Sterling or Henry Cejudo for UFC title in return: ‘It’s official’

Number two ranked UFC bantamweight contender, Sean O’Malley has claimed he has been given reassurances from the promotion that he will be fighting for division gold next in his Octagon return – facing the victor of the upcoming May title fight between champion, Henry Cejudo, and the returning, Henry Cejudo. O’Malley, the current #2 ranked […]

O’Malley, the current #2 ranked bantamweight contender, most recently featured at UFC 280 back in October of last year in Abu Dhabi, UAE on ‘Fight Island’ – defeating former undisputed bantamweight contender, Petr Yan in a close, debated split decision win.

Knocked from his number one perch at bantamweight last month, Montana native, Sean O’Malley was replaced at the top of the pile by the surging, Merab Dvalishvili, who himself took out common-foe, Dudinka native, Yan in a clear-cut unanimous decision win in the main event of UFC Fight Night Las Vegas.

Claiming in the immediate aftermath of his win over the Russian late last year how he would be fighting for Octagon gold next.

In May, headlining UFC 288 in Newark, New Jersey – undisputed bantamweight kingpin, the above-mentioned, Sterling searches for his third defense of his throne, taking on the returning, former two-weight champion, Cejudo.

Sean O’Malley claims he will fight for bantamweight gold next

And according to Dana White’s Contender Series alum, O’Malley, UFC officials have confirmed to him that he will be fighting the winner of that title bout for championship gold next.

“My next fight will be f*cking huge,” Sean O’Malley said on his podcast. “Winner of Henry (Cejudo) vs. Aljo (Aljamain Sterling). I talked with the UFC and that’s happening. It’s official. Winner of that fight, I’ll fight.” (Transcribed by MMA News)

In the midst of a five-fight undefeated run, prior to his decision win over Yan, O’Malley had fought to an official ‘No Contest’ against Pedro Munhoz, before chalking up wins over the trio of promotional veterans, Raulian Paiva, Kris Moutinho, and Thomas Almeida.

Merab Dvalishvili turns down May 13. headliner against Umar Nurmagomedov, awaiting result of UFC 288 title fight

Fresh off his win over Petr Yan earlier this month, Merab Dvalishvili was reportedly offered a May 13 main event slot against undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov. Per a report from Aaron Bronsteter, a representative with Dominance MMA confirmed that Dvalishvili would not accept the offer, citing an injury. Merab Dvalishvili’s manager Oren Hodak confirmed with Bronsteter […]

Fresh off his win over Petr Yan earlier this month, Merab Dvalishvili was reportedly offered a May 13 main event slot against undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov.

Per a report from Aaron Bronsteter, a representative with Dominance MMA confirmed that Dvalishvili would not accept the offer, citing an injury. Merab Dvalishvili’s manager Oren Hodak confirmed with Bronsteter that ‘The Machine’ is currently dealing with an injury, but also revealed that his fighter has no interest in committing to anything until May’s bantamweight title fight between reigning champion Aljamain Sterling and Henry Cejudo is in the books.

“Merab just fought and he fought injured. Nothing to talk about until the May 6 (bantamweight) title fight happens anyhow,” Hodak said according to a Tweet from Bronsteter.

‘The Machine’ climbed to the No. 1 spot in the UFC’s bantamweight rankings following his 25-minute destruction of former 135-pound champion Petr Yan. Apparently, the promotion felt that an adequate reward for his performance against the former titleholder was a main event slot against a fighter still sitting outside of the top ten. Instead, Dvalishvili has his sights set on a bantamweight clash with top contender Cory Sandhagen.

“Merab is interested in tasting that Sandhagen sandwich that was on the menu and comes at a much more high profile extra value meal compared to a guy not even in the top 10,” Hodak reportedly added.

Cory Sandhagen is fresh off a split decision victory over Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera at UFC San Antonio on Saturday night.

Hodak added: "Merab is interested in tasting that Sandhagen sandwich that was on the menu and comes at a much more high profile extra value meal compared to a guy not even in the top 10"

(He asked me to quote him on that)

— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) March 27, 2023

Merab Dvalishvili’s Reluctance to Fight Aljamain Sterling Will Make Him Nothing More Than a Stepping Stone For Other Fighters

With an undefeated record of 16-0, Umar Nurmagomedov is considered by many to be the future of the UFC’s bantamweight division. It appears as though the promotion was attempting to fast-track his status as a title contender at the expense of Merab Dvalishvili by offering ‘The Machine’ a May matchup with the Dagestani standout. That decision was likely influenced by the fact that Dvalishvili has said on more than one occasion that he will never fight his best friend and teammate Aljamain Sterling, the reigning UFC bantamweight champion.

It now appears that Merab Dvalishvili will instead sit back and wait to see what happens at UFC 288 when Sterling puts his title on the line against Henry Cejudo. If ‘Funk Master’ manages to escape the Prudential Center with his title intact, Dvalishvili will be left in limbo and likely used as nothing more than a stepping stone for other fighters given his reluctance to fight the champ.

The best-case scenario for ‘The Machine’ is to see Henry Cejudo reclaim the bantamweight title on May 6. Even then, he could be potentially passed up for a title opportunity in favor of the more marketable Sean O’Malley.

Henry Cejudo rips UFC best Aljamain Sterling: ‘He won the belt via Academy Award’

Former two-division UFC titleholder Henry Cejudo didn’t hold back against bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling. After a three-year layoff, Cejudo will return to face Sterling for the bantamweight title in the main event of UFC 288 on May 6. During a recent interview with ESPN, Cejudo (16-2) had a heated exchange with Sterling, who he criticized […]

Former two-division UFC titleholder Henry Cejudo didn’t hold back against bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling.

After a three-year layoff, Cejudo will return to face Sterling for the bantamweight title in the main event of UFC 288 on May 6.

During a recent interview with ESPN, Cejudo (16-2) had a heated exchange with Sterling, who he criticized for his controversial title win at UFC 259.

In March 2021, Sterling (22-3) defeated former champion Petr Yan by disqualification due to an illegal knee. A year later, he captured another win against Yan by split decision.

“He won the [title] via Academy Award. He won the second fight against Yan [against Yan] via… judges guilt,” Cejudo said. “This dude is an easy fight for me and I’m going to stop him no less than three rounds and I promise you that.”

Henry Cejudo vs. Aljamain Sterling Are Two Bantamweight Greats

Cejudo, who is a former simultaneous bantamweight and flyweight champion, last fought in May 2020 at UFC 249 where he defeated Dominick Cruz by TKO. He announced his retirement after the bout.

The 36-year-old re-entered the USADA drug-testing pool in early 2022. His UFC resume includes other wins over Demetrious Johnson, T.J. Dillashaw, Sergio Pettis and Marlon Moreas, to name a select few.

Sterling, who represents the Serra-Longo Fight Team, hasn’t lost in five years. Since winning the 135-pound title, he has defended his throne twice with wins over former champions Yan and Dillashaw.

The Long Island, New York native is ranked No. 7 in the UFC’s pound-for-pound fighter list.

“Once that bell rings and you realize it’s not an easy fight, you’re going to feel so stupid,” Sterling told Cejudo.

The two 135-ers will settle their beef at UFC 288 that will be held at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.