Aljamain Sterling has never been shy about the struggles he faced cutting down to 135 pounds, but his toughest battle on the scale came just before his UFC 288 title defense against Henry Cejudo. The former bantamweight champion, who has since moved up to featherweight, recently admitted that making weight for that fight pushed his body to the absolute limit, making him reconsider his long-term health. In a social media post, Sterling shared that his cut was so brutal it nearly landed him in the hospital, reinforcing why a return to his old division is off the table.
Aljamain Sterling’s move to Featherweight: A Necessary change for his career
After losing his title to Sean O’Malley at UFC 292, Aljamain Sterling made the long-anticipated decision to leave bantamweight behind. The move wasn’t just about clearing a path for his teammate and current 135-pound champion, Merab Dvalishvili—it was about his own health and longevity. ‘Funkmaster’ was always considered a big bantamweight, and while that size gave him advantages inside the cage, it also made for brutal weight cuts that drained him before fight night.
His split-decision win over
Henry Cejudo at UFC 288 was another successful title defense, but the road to making weight was anything but smooth and took a serious toll on his body. Looking back on that experience, Sterling admitted it was the closest he had ever come to a serious medical emergency.
“Henry Cejudo fight was awful. Never felt that close to the hospital before,” Sterling revealed in a social media post.
Sterling has since fully committed to the featherweight division, where he’s currently ranked #9. He made an impressive debut at UFC 300 but suffered a setback in December at UFC 310, losing a close fight to Movsar Evloev. Despite the loss, he remains in the mix at 145 pounds, with Arnold Allen as a possible next opponent.
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What is Anderson Silva's net worth? Exploring the Spider's career earnings, early life and moreWith his championship experience and skill set, Sterling isn’t far from another title shot. The featherweight division is wide open, and two solid wins could put him right back in contention. One thing is certain—his days of draining himself to make 135 pounds are over for good.
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