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Aljamain Sterling announces Henry Cejudo fight for UFC 288

Aljamain Sterling will compete against a returning Henry Cejudo at UFC 288, according to Sterling himself. During a new Youtube video, Sterling announced that he will defend his UFC bantamweight title against Cejudo on May 6. No official announcement has been made by the UFC. “I’m fighting May 6 against Henry Cejudo. I’m looking forward […]

Aljamain Sterling will compete against a returning Henry Cejudo at UFC 288, according to Sterling himself.

During a new Youtube video, Sterling announced that he will defend his UFC bantamweight title against Cejudo on May 6. No official announcement has been made by the UFC.

“I’m fighting May 6 against Henry Cejudo. I’m looking forward to the challenge,” Sterling said. “Henry, I can not wait for the challenge to fight you and I know and I hope you can’t fight me as well. The crowd deserves a big fight. This is a big fight for the bantamweight division.”

Aljamain Sterling vs. Henry Cejudo is Expected to Finally Happen

For months, rumors have been swirling on if and when the two bantamweights would square off. Now, it seems that they are expected to fight at UFC 288.

Sterling (22-3) has been on a tear in the bantamweight division for nearly five years. He’s been unbeaten dating back to April 2018. He captured the bantamweight title against Petr Yan in a controversial disqualification at UFC 259. A year later, he silenced critics by successfully defending the title against Yan. He defended the title for a second time, when he secured a second-round TKO against T.J. Dillashaw last October at UFC 280.

Cejudo hasn’t fought since May 2020. The former two-division world champion last defeated Dominick Cruz at UFC 249. He is a former UFC flyweight and bantamweight world champion.

“I’m happy that I’m sitting on top of the [bantamweight] throne. I know you’re happy that you’ve been once on top of this throne. Let’s go out there and show the world some magic and make some good things happen and make this one for the history books,” Sterling said. “I’m taking you very very seriously and I can not wait to put my shin across your head and show you that you’re good but you’re just not on my level.”

Beneil Dariush predicts finish over Charles Oliveira in UFC return, expects ‘Crazy fight’

Charles Oliveira UFC 288 Beneil Dariush Surging UFC lightweight challenger, Beneil Dariush has been continually linked with a title-eliminator opposite former division champion, Charles Oliveira in the duo’s respective next Octagon walks. And the Iran-born contender expects a “crazy fight” before eventually finishing the Brazilian. Dariush, the current #4 ranked lightweight contender, has enjoyed an impressive run of eight consecutive victories […]

Surging UFC lightweight challenger, Beneil Dariush has been continually linked with a title-eliminator opposite former division champion, Charles Oliveira in the duo’s respective next Octagon walks. And the Iran-born contender expects a “crazy fight” before eventually finishing the Brazilian.

Dariush, the current #4 ranked lightweight contender, has enjoyed an impressive run of eight consecutive victories ahead of his 2023 return, most recently defeating former KSW two-weight champion, Matuesz Gamrot, in a unanimous decision victory last October in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

At the same UFC 280 event on ‘Fight Island’, Oliveira seen his division-best run of 12 straight wins come to a halt as he suffered a second round arm-triangle submission loss to Islam Makhachev in the pair’s vacant title fight in the night’s headliner.

Linked with an Octagon return as soon as April or May this year, the Sao Paulo native’s manager and head coach, Diego Lima confirmed recently how Oliveira had been teed up to fight Dariush on May 6. at UFC 288, however, the pairing has yet to be officially booked by the organization.

Beneil Dariush predicts finish over Charles Oliveira at UFC 288

Sharing his thoughts on his expected pairing with Oliveira in May, Dariush, a staple of Kings MMA under Rafael Cordeiro, claimed he would finish the Brazilian inside a couple of rounds.

“They (the UFC) already set me up with Charles (Oliveira),” Beneil Dariush told Submission Radio during a recent interview. “They’re talking about contracts. We’re just trying to work out the contract right now, and then go forward from there.”

“I’m gonna get a finish either in the first or the second round,” Beneil Dariush predicted. “That’s how I think in my mind. I’m going to just be who I am. And then when he (Oliveira) gets excited, I’ll get excited, and then it’ll turn into a crazy fight like everybody’s talking about. But in reality, I’m just preparing for a three round war with him. And I need to be ready for all the positions that I can get into, and all the dangers he could put me in those positions.”

Coach claims language barrier prevented UFC from booking Conor McGregor, Charles Oliveira season of TUF

Chute Boxe head coach, Diego Lima has claimed the UFC had shown interest in booking a season of The Ultimate Fighter between his student, Charles Oliveira, and former duel-weight Octagon titleholder, Conor McGregor this year, however, explained how the language barrier prevented the matchup being made. Oliveira, the current #1 ranked lightweight contender and former […]

Chute Boxe head coach, Diego Lima has claimed the UFC had shown interest in booking a season of The Ultimate Fighter between his student, Charles Oliveira, and former duel-weight Octagon titleholder, Conor McGregor this year, however, explained how the language barrier prevented the matchup being made.

Oliveira, the current #1 ranked lightweight contender and former undisputed division champion, has been sidelined since UFC 280 back in October of last year, suffering a second round arm-triangle submission loss to Islam Makhachev in their vacant title fight.

As for McGregor, the 34-year-old former undisputed featherweight and lightweight best has yet to make his comeback since fracturing his left tibia and fibula in a UFC 264 trilogy rubber match against common-foe, Dustin Poirier in July 2021.

Earlier this month, UFC president, Dana White confirmed, however, how McGregor would make his Octagon return later this year as part of The Ultimate Fighter 31 – coaching opposite soon-to-be common-opposition, the current #5 ranked challenger, Michael Chandler.

While an official venue or location, as well as a date for McGregor’s return against Missouri veteran, Chandler has yet to be determined by the promotion, a September pay-per-view clash has been floated according to multiple reports.

Charles Oliveira was explored as a potential opposing coach for Conor McGregor in his TUF return

However, prior to the finalization of McGregor’s return on The Ultimate Fighter against Chandler, the above-mentioned, Lima confirmed how Charles Oliveira was touted as a potential coach against the Dubliner, however, the language barrier for the Portuguese speaker prevented such a clash – at least on reality television.

“If Charles (Oliveira) knew English, the UFC would have liked to make The Ultimate Fighter between him and Conor McGregor,” Diego Lima told Eurosport reporter, Alvaro Colmenero.”

Seeing his 12-fight winning spree snapped in his submission loss to Makhachev, Charles Oliveira’s most recent win came in the form of a non-title defense submission win of his own over Justin Gaethje last May, which followed a standing rear-naked choke win over the previously mentioned, Poirier, and a 2021 title win knockout over Chandler.

Charles Oliveira confirms UFC are planning May title eliminator fight with Beneil Dariush: ‘We’re negotiating’

Former undisputed UFC lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira has confirmed negotiations are underway for a May 6. return to the Octagon at UFC 288 – in the form of a title-eliminator clash against surging division contender, Beneil Dariush. Sao Paulo grappler, Oliveira, who currently boasts the #1 rank in the official lightweight rankings, has yet to […]

Sao Paulo grappler, Oliveira, who currently boasts the #1 rank in the official lightweight rankings, has yet to return to active competition since October of last year, on that occasion headlining UFC 280 in a vacant title fight opposite Islam Makhachev.

Seeing his 12-fight undefeated run halted, Oliveira suffered a second round arm-triangle submission loss to Makhachev, who in turn, minted himself as the undisputed lightweight champion.

As for Dariush, the surging Iranian-born force returned on that Abu Dhabi, UAE card also, taking on former two-weight KSW champion, Mateusz Gamrot on the same card, securing a unanimous decision triumph.

Confirming recently how the UFC had approached him with a bout against Oliveira, Dariush claimed that a potential title-eliminator between the duo had been postponed and further pushed back.

Charles Oliveira confirms fight with Beneil Dariush is currently targeted

However, Oliveira has now also confirmed that negotiations for a fight with Dariush for UFC 288 on May 6. have also taken place, and are currently rumbling along.

“It’s true that we are negotiating to face (Beneil) Dariush, who is coming from a gigantic sequence of wins,” Charles Oliveira said through an interpreter during an interview with The Schmo. “My managers Jorge Patino and Diego Lima and taking care of that. As I said in other interviews, that’s a moment where we have think with reason, not emotion. I must fight the one who will take me to the title shot.”

“My plan is [to] figh April or May, and then fight for the belt by the end of the year [against] the winner of (Alexander) Volkanovski and (Islam) Makhachev,” Charles Oliveira explained. (Transcribed by Sherdog)

Winning the vacant lightweight title back in 2021, Oliveira stopped Michael Chandler in a second round TKO success, before submitting Dustin Poirier with a third round rear-naked choke in December of last year.

Prior to his submission loss to Makhachev, Oliveira stopped Justin Gaethje in May of last year in a first round submission win of his own.

Photo – Charles Oliveira inks massive new back tattoo ahead of UFC comeback

Ahead of an expected Octagon return in May of this year, former undisputed UFC lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira has inked a new, massive back tattoo of an entire lion’s head and an accompanying mane. Oliveira, a former undisputed lightweight champion under the banner of the UFC, currently boasts the #1 rank in the official 155lbs […]

Oliveira, a former undisputed lightweight champion under the banner of the UFC, currently boasts the #1 rank in the official 155lbs pile, most recently featuring in October of last year.

Headlining UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi, UAE against Islam Makhachev, Sao Paulo native, Charles Oliveira suffered a second round arm-triangle submission loss to the Makhackhala native, in the pair’s vacant championship matchup.

The loss snapped Oliveira’s stunning 12-fight winning spree, having previously minted himself as the undisputed lightweight titleholder, with a 2021 knockout win over Michael Chandler.

In December of that year, Oliveira stopped Dustin Poirier with a third round standing rear-naked choke to successfully defend the title, before submitting Justin Gaethje in Arizona last May in a non-title bout after the Brazilian missed championship weight.

Expected to make his UFC comeback in April or May of this year, Charles Oliveira, who plans to fight for the lightweight crown before the end of 2023, recently got some more tattoo work done in his native Brazil – this time in the form of an entire back piece.

“Charles Oliveira has an INSANE new back tattoo,” Amy Kaplan tweeted. “ARTIST: William Espósito”

Charles Oliveira expected to make UFC return against Beneil Dariush

Linked with a slew of potential opponents for his Octagon return in the opening quarter of this year, Oliveira, the promotion’s most prolific submission ace and all-time finisher, appears to be on the brink of inking a deal to fight Iran-born contender, Beneil Dariush, who claimed recently the UFC approached him with a matchup against Oliveira for UFC 288 in May.

“Here’s the thing I’ve been having with Charles (Oliveira) – the UFC were originally like, ‘Hey, what do you think about fighting him in Brazil?’ Which was like a couple weeks ago,” Beneil Dariush said. “I think – or it was last week, I don’t know. And I was like, can I get a little bit more time? It turns out my MCL was torn.”

“… So I’d like to just start my camp fresh,” Beneil Dariush continued. “Can I have a little bit extra time? So can we do February? And they said, ‘OK, yeah we’ll do February.’ February turned into March, March turned into April. And now they’re (the UFC) are talking about May.”