BREAKING: Aljamain Sterling confirms May return in title fight against Henry Cejudo

It looks like the UFC is close to finally locking in Aljamain Sterling vs. Henry Cejudo for May 2023. The reigning bantamweight champion confirmed the news in a recent interview with The Schmo.

Sterling is currently nursing a torn bicep, which has delayed his showdown with 'Triple C'. He is traveling to Colombia over the weekend to receive a stem cell replacement in hopes of fast-tracking the recovery.

According to the bantamweight champion, the matchup, which was initially rumored to be slated for April, was further pushed back by a month at the behest of his medical team.

'Funk Master' hopes that the stem cell treatment will get him back to a hundred percent before facing the former two-division champion in May:

"Henry, 'Triple Zero' is next, 110% he is next. It's not going to be April though. After talking with my medical team and the doctors, we're going to give myself a little bit more time and it's going to be May... So here we are. I think the stem cells with the bio accelerator is going to be very good. I'm very optimistic about that and think it's going to get me back to a 100%. So I can compete against a tough competitor like 'Triple Zero'."

Catch Aljamain Sterling reveal the timeline for his fight against Henry Cejudo below:

While 'Funk Master' is currently on an eight-fight win streak and was last seen at UFC 280, where he scored a second-round TKO win against former champion T.J. Dillashaw, Cejudo has not stepped inside the octagon since May 2020.

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Aljamain Sterling predicts a finish over Henry Cejudo

During the same interview, Aljamain Sterling boldly claimed that he was going to finish Henry Cejudo in the second round of their fight. 'Funk Master' added that other than 'Triple C', Sean O'Malley is the only enticing matchup he sees in the 135-pound division.

With that, the 33-year-old noted that he might very well move up to featherweight after his upcoming fight. The bantamweight champion feels that he'll be less depleted at 145 pounds since he'll have to cut less weight:

"I can see a second-round finish, [a] TKO [against Cejudo]. And after I finish Henry Cejudo, I really don't think the bantamweight division has anything left for me. Maybe a money fight with Sean O'Malley, if you know, he can get his toenails in order and make sure he stays pretty on the sidelines and healthy... or probably I'm just going to go up to 145 [pounds]... I've got dense bones man, I get heavy... 145, It would make things a bit easier... I won't have to deplete myself as much."

Aljamain Sterling has often been criticized for subjecting himself to extensive weight cuts. Some fight fans and athletes have suggested that 'Funk Master' is not a natural 135-pounder.