'He won the belt via Academy Award': Henry Cejudo, Aljamain Sterling get in heated exchange ahead of UFC 288

UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling and Henry Cejudo traded barbs ahead of their title clash.

Sterling (22-3 MMA, 14-3 UFC) defends his 135-pound title against returning former dual champ Cejudo (16-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) in the UFC 288 main event on May 6 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

During a segment on ESPN’s “DC & RC,” Sterling and Cejudo went at it verbally, with Cejudo taking aim at the champion’s resume in comparison to his.

“He won the belt via Academy Award,” Cejudo said. “He won the second fight (against Petr Yan) via I don’t know what it was, judges’ guilt. And then he couldn’t beat a guy (Dillashaw) that I beat in 32 seconds on EPO, and it took him freaking almost two rounds to get rid of him with one arm.

“I beat Demetrious Johnson, I beat the greatest bantamweight of all time in Dominick Cruz, I beat a dude on EPO, I got rid of Marlon Moraes, who knocked him the hell out, who took him to the Neptunes. I beat all these guys. And guess what, DC? I’m actually even better.”

Sterling concluded their exchange by saying that he’s no stranger to being underestimated, and he’s happy to prove the doubters wrong again when he faces Cejudo.

“All I’ve got to say is man we’re gonna find out who is who,” Sterling said. “And people doubt me my entire career, and I keep showing them who I am and what I’m made of. I work hard, and I earned this spot, and that’s all I can do is go out there and prove this man wrong once again. … Henry, I’m coming back to your house, I’m gonna put my feet up on your couch, and I’m gonna tell you to go pass me the milk from the kitchen.”

Check out the full interview in the video above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 288.