Multiple outlets confirmed the booking after Sterling announced it on his podcast. The May 6 date hasn’t been officially announced by the promotion, but it is expected to be a pay-per-view event. Sterling and Cejudo were initially rumored to meet earlier this year, but “The Funkmaster” revealed that he would need more time to heal from a torn bicep, putting that timeline on hold. UFC 288 doesn’t have a location or venue.
“I can’t wait for this matchup, because I think that it’s two guys that won’t back down, and I think the wrestling might cancel each other out – we will see if I’m able to rag-doll him,” Sterling said on Monday. “We’re going to figure it out in the first five minutes, and from there, we’ll figure out if we want to waste a ton of energy grappling, or do we want to put these [our fists] to the test and show the world what high-level grapplers can actually do when it comes to striking.
“I know you guys were impressed with [Kamaru] Usman vs. Colby Covington, that was a striker’s delight, and I would not be surprised if this fight is exactly the same way.”
Sterling is coming off a second-round TKO of T.J. Dillashaw in a bantamweight title defense at UFC 280 this past October. The Serra-Longo Fight Team member has won eight consecutive bouts in UFC competition, a run that includes triumphs over the likes of Petr Yan (twice), Cory Sandhagen, Pedro Munhoz and Jimmie Rivera.
A former title holder at both flyweight and bantamweight, Cejudo has not competed since a second-round TKO of Dominick Cruz at UFC 249 in May 2020. The Olympic gold medalist announced his retirement after the victory, relinquishing his 135-pound belt in the process. Cejudo has won six straight bouts dating back to September 2017, a run that features victories against Marlon Moraes, Dillashaw, Demetrious Johnson and Sergio Pettis.