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UFC Bantamweight Champion Aljamain Sterling is scheduled to defend the gold against Sean O’Malley in the main event of UFC 292.
Former two division UFC champion Henry Cejudo, who is coming off of a loss to Sterling, wants to replace Sterling as a back up and fight for an interim title if Sterling cannot compete at the event.
“If Aljamain Sterling is playing this game that he’s not ready, he needs a little more time, (then) let’s make an interim fight between me and Sean O’Malley,” Cejudo said on his YouTube channel (transcript via Farah Hannoun of MMA Junkie). “It’s a bigger fight, it’s what the UFC wanted initially. It’s the same reason why they brought me out to chase and beat Aljamain Sterling.
“Yeah, OK, I took a loss. Split decision, I’ll take it on the chin, but there’s still an opportunity there for me. After a three-year layoff, coming back, losing by split decision, being ranked now No. 3, that puts me in a really good position. I wanted Merab, and I’m still willing to wait for Merab. But if that fight with Sean O’Malley happens to open up, I’m 100 percent in, Dana White.”
Sterling, who just defeated Cejudo at UFC 288 this month, would have just over three months in between title defenses if he competes at UFC 292.
Cejudo admits that wanting to be a champion again is why he is willing to be ready for action at UFC 292.
“Typically, I wouldn’t be the type of guy that would do things like that, but right now I don’t have the gold around my waist,” Cejudo said. “So, if the UFC does want to have me as a backup, yeah. I’ve got to talk to Ali (Abdelaziz), and I do want to be compensated to be the backup fighter.”
