Sterling conquers Cejudo, exchanges postfight words with O'Malley - ESPN

NEWARK, N.J. — Aljamain Sterling won his title fight and then another almost broke out in the Octagon.

Sterling defeated Henry Cejudo via split decision (47-48, 48-47, 48-47) in the main event of UFC 288 on Saturday night here at Prudential Center. With the very close win, Sterling retained his UFC bantamweight title.

After the fight, the UFC brought Sterling's next challenger, the popular Sean O'Malley, into the Octagon. Sterling and O'Malley started jawing at each other on the microphone, which was being held by interviewer Joe Rogan. O'Malley told Sterling that he fought like «s---» and «better fight better than that» if he's going to beat him.

«I'll drag your ass up and down the Octagon,» Sterling told O'Malley in response. «Get your ass out of my cage.»

O'Malley then climbed up onto the Octagon to play to the crowd, but it was right in Sterling's corner. O'Malley and Sterling's team started to get into verbally and they had to be separated. UFC president Dana White was one of the ones holding him back. Sterling then got involved, but the scuffle was quickly quelled. Sterling said he wanted to fight O'Malley in September.

Meanwhile, Cejudo, who was fighting for the first time in three years after retiring previously, said in his postfight interview that this could be his final fight.

«I'm a little confused right now,» Cejudo said. «If I'm not first, I'm last.»

The fight itself was razor close. Sterling was able to nullify the wrestling of Cejudo, a former Olympic gold medalist in the sport, for the majority of the fight. The grappling was largely a stalemate and both men had moments on the feet, though not a ton of them. Cejudo was sporting a cut under his right eye midway through the bout.

«Persistence is gonna keep