Aljamain Sterling & Suga Sean Get Face-To-Face After Aljo Grinds Out A Win Over Henry Cejudo
We got some FIREWORKS after the main event tonight, huh?!
I'll be honest, Aljamain Sterling vs Henry Cejudo wasn't the most exciting fight we've ever seen (and the fact that it followed Belal Muhammed vs Gilbert Burns did them no favors with the crowd) but that post-fight face off with "Suga" Sean and near-melee with Merab got the blood flowing! That was awesome!
Part of me felt bad for Aljo, who kinda got his moment taken away there - but then I remembered that he'll be getting PPV points on this megafight, and I felt a lot less bad. Plus, it was all worth it for Merab stealing O'Malley's Thriller jacket. That was hilarious.
As far as tonight's main event goes - like I said, it wasn't the most thrilling fight, but it was an absolute chess match from bell-to-bell and an incredibly technical showing from both men. Watching two of the best wrestlers in mixed martial arts duke it out and negate each other's best tools for five rounds was super intriguing. Aljo's ability to sneak around his opponents and get the back is second-to-none, and Cejudo being able to snag takedowns with EASE at some points was crazy. I probably scored it 3-2 for Cejudo, to be honest, but every round was so razor thin that I have zero issue with Aljo getting the nod there.
UFC 288 wasn't the best card overall tonight, but it was also cursed from the jump and the UFC did the best they could in putting together what they could on paper. Thank god for that Yan Xiaonan knockout.
I truly can't wait for Aljo/Suga tho. I think we'll get that fight in the Fall and there's a chance we see it at Madison Square Garden in November. Imagine a Jones/Stipe, Aljo/Suga card?!