“F**king premature stoppage,” Rivals Aljamain Sterling and Henry Cejudo team up to diss Sean O’Malley’s KO win

Aljamain Sterling weighs back in on his title loss at bantamweight to be an early stoppage.

“F**king premature stoppage,” Rivals Aljamain Sterling and Henry Cejudo team up to diss Sean O’Malley’s KO win

Sean O'Malley's biggest rivals weigh in on his UFC 292 highlight KO (Source: Instagram/IMAGO)

Aljamain Sterling and his last two fights have resulted very differently. The bantamweight lost his title to Sean O’Malley at UFC 292 after a successful title defense against Henry Cejudo. This was at UFC 288. Sterling especially regrets taking up another defense so soon, given the abysmal draws. Taking to X, he talked about ‘underperforming’ PPV buy rates for UFC 292/288. A trend started by Sean O’Malley and ‘Triple C’, on PPV-shaming Twitter exchanges.

It is more than clear that the trio have much entwined divisional history together. None of them let go of a chance to diss the other. But this also gives them proper insight into each other. ‘Suga’ bagged the 135lbs gold with a fateful round two TKO of Sterling and Cejudo spoke on it. Here’s what Sterling says about it currently:

Definitely made a big mistake but I still agree. Premature as I’m talking to the ref like “bro cmon man”
Aljamain Sterling via X
YouTube video

Sterling had called a foul on the early stoppage by referee Marc Goddard. Now, taking to X, Sterling sided and reaffirmed Cejudo’s statement yet again. Notably, he has a deep reverence for Cejudo and his insights; Cejudo’s texts to Aljamain Sterling before UFC 292 reveal a play-by-play cheatsheet of the dangers.

FS Video

While even Belal Muhammad’s prediction of Sean O’Malley’s spectacular KO victory held, Cejudo’s was special. And the title loss stings for Sterling even to this day. Even though he debuts as a 145lber soon at UFC 300.

What did Henry Cejudo say on UFC 292’s apparent early stoppage?

Aljamain Sterling, Henry Cejudo, and Sean O’Malley have much-intertwined history in the star-studded bantamweight title scene. Sterling had it; Cejudo wants it, and ‘Suga’ is just not ready to let go of his title gold just yet, as he makes his maiden defense at UFC 299.

Aljamain Sterling, Sean O'Malley, and Henry Cejudo have much history together
Aljamain Sterling, Sean O’Malley, and Henry Cejudo have much history together (Source: Twitter/UFC.go.com, Instagram)

Cejudo, Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson, and Frank Mir recently sat down with host Harrison Rogers, for ‘The HJR Experiment‘ podcast. The group briefly touched upon O’Malley’s highlight knockout from last August.

Speaking on it, Cejudo said – 

Aljamain just fu**ing went out there and fought him like the same way somebody fought me...Came in straight, boom! Gets caught...fu**ing premature stoppage, straight up...That stoppage was premature for a world title fight.
Henry Cejudo via The HJR Experiment

Sterling lost his title to a fateful right hand and subsequent ground-and-pounds from O’Malley. The punches and swarm of attacks were lauded by many fans and peers as one that would go down in history.

However, the then-champion voiced his angst that it was an early stoppage by Marc Goddard. A sentiment he expressed yet again, claiming the referee’s missed call might have altered the fate of Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295.

As such, both Cejudo and Sterling feel that it was quite an early stoppage, given that it was a title fight.

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