Alajamin Sterling is being "forced" into defending his UFC bantamweight title against Henry Cejudo - according to top contender Sean O'Malley.
Sterling, 33, is expected to welcome former two-weight world champion Cejudo back to the octagon in the first quarter of this year. 'Triple C' hasn't fought since vacating his bantamweight title after beating Dominick Cruz almost three years ago, but looks to fulfil his nickname by becoming a three-time champion.
O'Malley is next in line for a bantamweight title shot after being bumped up to the No.1 contender spot following his controversial win against Petr Yan last October. 'Suga' thinks the absence of an official announcement for the expected title fight shows that Sterling is being forced against his will to make the fight, stating on his podcast : "Still nothing on the title fight. Aljo posted a picture and said training for Suga or something. Henry’s going out there and saying, ‘Hey, done deal on my part'.
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“So, it is Aljo that’s not taking the fight. We’ve talked about it several times. I don’t think it’s money. I think it’s literally he doesn’t want to get into camp. For me, it’s like, if I was in a mindset where I’m like, ‘I don’t want to go into camp.’ I’ve been in those mindsets where I’m not mentally ready to go into a f****ng camp. That would suck, and he’s getting forced into this fight. He’s probably enjoying being champ because he knows it isn’t gonna last long.”
Whilst appearing at the PFL Championships last November, Cejudo told Mirror Fighting his title clash against Sterling was a "done deal" for his UFC return. Sterling was also in attendance for the event and refuted his rival's claim, insisting he was yet to sign a contract for the fight.
"No, the deal is not done because I haven't signed s***," he said. "So he [Cejudo] can say whatever he wants, until then it's all talk. In this game, money talks, baby and bulls*** walks, holla at your boy, we here for the money, cash money, talk to me, baby!"
Cejudo retired from fighting over a pay dispute with the UFC but has seemingly resolved the issue judging by his planned return to the octagon. The 2008 Olympic gold medalist hasn't lost a fight in over six years, but the bookies still have Sterling as the favourite to beat him in their pencilled-in title fight.
