Sterling vs Cejudo

Who won Sterling vs Cejudo?

Aljamain Sterling beat Henry Cejudo by split decision in their 5 round contest during the main event of UFC 288, on Saturday 6th May 2023 at Prudential Center in Newark.

The scorecards were announced in favor of the winner Aljamain Sterling.

The fight was scheduled to take place over 5 rounds in the Bantamweight division, which meant the weight limit was 135 pounds (9.6 stone or 61.2 KG).

This contest was for the UFC Bantamweight championship.

Sterling vs Cejudo stats

Aljamain Sterling stepped into the octagon with a record of 22 wins, 3 losses and 0 draws, 3 of those wins coming by the way of knock out and 8 by submission.

Henry Cejudo made his way to the cage with a record of 16 wins, 2 losses and 0 draws, 8 of those wins coming by knock out.

This was Aljamain Sterling's 21st fight in the UFC, having made his debut for the promotion in 2014. Henry Cejudo marked his 15th fight for them, having made his own debut for the promotion in 2014.

Aljamain Sterling's UFC record stood at 16-5-0, while Henry Cejudo's came in at 10-5-0.

The stats suggested Cejudo had a massive power advantage over Sterling, boasting a 50% knock out percentage over Sterling's 14%.

If the fight went to the ground, their records suggested Sterling had a massive advantage over Cejudo, boasting a 36% submission rate over Cejudo's 0%.

Aljamain Sterling was the younger man by 3 years, at 35 years old.

Sterling had a height advantage of 3 inches over Cejudo. That also extended to a 4-inch reach advantage.

Sterling was arguably the more experienced fighter, having had 7 more fights, and made his debut in 2011, 14 years and 1 month later than Cejudo, whose first professional fight was in . He had fought 26 more professional rounds, 79 to Cejudo's 53.

Sterling vs Cejudo form

Sterling had won all 5 of his most recent fights, stopping 1 opponent and going to the judges 4 times.

In his last fight leading up to this contest, he had won against T.J. Dillashaw at UFC 280 on 22nd October 2022 by knockout in the 2nd round in their UFC Bantamweight championship fight at Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Previous to that, he had beaten Petr Yan at UFC 273 on 9th April 2022 by split decision in their UFC Bantamweight championship fight at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, United States.

Going into that contest, he had defeated Petr Yan at UFC 259 on 6th March 2021 by split decision in the 4th round in their UFC Bantamweight championship fight at UFC APEX, Las Vegas.

Before that, he was victorious against Cory Sandhagen at UFC 250 on 6th June 2020 by submission in the 1st round at UFC APEX, Las Vegas.

He had won against Brett Johns at UFC Fight Night 128 on 21st April 2018 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest at Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City.

Henry Cejudo had stopped 2 of his last 5 opponents.

In his last fight before this contest, he had lost to Yadong Song at UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Song on 22nd February 2025 by unanimous decision in the 3rd round at Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, United States.

Previous to that, he had been beaten by Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 298 on 17th February 2024 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest at Honda Center, Anaheim.

Going into that contest, he had been defeated by Aljamain Sterling at UFC 288 on 6th May 2023 by split decision in their UFC Bantamweight championship fight at Prudential Center, Newark.

Before that, he had beaten Dominick Cruz at UFC 249 on 9th May 2020 by knockout in the 2nd round in their UFC Bantamweight championship fight at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville.

He had defeated Marlon Moraes at UFC 238 on 8th June 2019 by knockout in the 3rd round in their UFC Bantamweight championship fight at United Center, Chicago.

Activity check

In terms of activity leading into the fight, Henry Cejudo had been fighting more than Aljamain Sterling.

Going to this contest, Aljamain Sterling had last fought 2 years, 7 months and 23 days ago, while Henry Cejudo's last outing had been 3 months and 23 days ago.

Sterling's last 5 fights had come over a period of 7 years, 1 month and 24 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 1 year, 5 months and 6 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 15 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 3 rounds on average.

Cejudo's last 5 fights had come over a period of 6 years and 6 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 1 year, 2 months and 15 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 16 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 3.2 rounds on average.

What were the odds on Sterling vs Cejudo?

Aljamain Sterling was a 1/1 (+100) underdog going into the contest, while Henry Cejudo made his way into the ring at 83/100 (-120) with oddsmakers.