'I’m supposed to get another MRI' - UFC Bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling provides his health update ahead of his clash against Sean O'Malley

Aljamain Sterling, the UFC bantamweight champion, defeated Henry Cejudo in a hard-fought contest on Saturday to set up a rematch with Sean O'Malley. In the main event of UFC 288, Sterling (23-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) defeated former champion Cejudo (16-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) by unanimous decision (47-48, 48-47, 48-47). The title fight for bantamweight took held at the Prudential Centre in Newark, New Jersey.

Meanwhile, Sterling talked about his injuries and gave health updates before his upcoming championship title clash against O'Malley. Sterling said that his legs are still very sensitive and he is yet to recover fully and it will take a lot of time.

“I’m still injured with my legs banged up, my bicep still sucks. I’m supposed to get another MRI on that. I’m trying to get to this fight in August. We’ve talked a little bit about it, and we’ll try to see if we can make it happen. But my leg is still super sensitive to the touch. I hope I’m not ruining anything by me saying that, but guys, I did just fight.” Sterling was quoted as saying by MMA Junkie.

Even flexing right now hurts: Aljamain Sterling

Six months after winning a split decision over Petr Yan at UFC 273, Sterling faced former champion TJ Dillashaw and won by second-round TKO to earn his second title defense. Up until this point, that was his title run's shortest turnaround. Sterling decided to fight O'Malley in August despite still being sore from fighting for 25 minutes against Henry Cejudo.

“I told them, yes, verbally agreed but, of course, my body has to agree. It’s kind of like Manel Kape vs. Deiveson Figueiredo and he thought he was good to fight, and then his eye – whatever, whatever. And then I have to test my bicep again to see because I definitely feel like I tweaked it in the fight, but it held up. Even flexing right now hurts. So, I don’t know. We’ll see. So, you guys have the inside scoop. Gonna try to make this happen. This would be a sick, insane turnaround. But where there’s a will, there’s a way.” Sterling said.