Demetrious Johnson Reveals under ONE Championship Rule Outcome of Cejudo vs. Sterling Fight would have changed

Henry Cejudo’s valiant effort in the UFC 288 bantamweight title fight against Aljamain Sterling left fans and fellow fighters in awe. While Sterling emerged victorious by split decision, one notable observer, Demetrious Johnson, believes that the outcome might have been different had the bout taken place under ONE Championship rules.

in an interview with MMAJunkie Johnson, the former UFC flyweight champion and current ONE Championship titleholder, expressed his conviction that Cejudo would have emerged as the victor under the ruleset of his organization. In an interview with MMA Junkie, Johnson highlighted Sterling’s frequent failed takedown attempts and the subsequent use of a prohibited knee strike as pivotal moments in the fight.

“One of the things when I was watching with Matt (Hume), Aljo would shoot – and he did it with Petr Yan – he would shoot and fail his shot, or Henry would sprawl and (Sterling) would sit like this [swings head from side to side]. He would use the (prohibited) knee to a grounded opponent to his advantage,” Johnson explained.

Johnson, renowned for his technical prowess, acknowledged the strategic advantage Sterling gained by exploiting the limitations of Cejudo’s skill set within the UFC rules. However, he firmly believed that if the fight were contested in ONE Championship, Cejudo’s ability to deliver knee strikes to a grounded opponent would have forced Sterling to alter his tactics and likely alter the outcome.

During the fight, Johnson watched intently and even recorded himself urging Cejudo to deliver the knee strikes that were permissible under ONE Championship regulations. His analysis underscored the potential game-changing impact these strikes could have had.

Reflecting on the fight, Johnson shared his disappointment at Cejudo’s narrow loss but commended both fighters for their tenacity and desire to claim the title. He acknowledged the unexpected grappling prowess displayed by Sterling, who managed to take down Cejudo, a decorated Olympic wrestling gold medalist.

“The biggest thing is that I didn’t account for Aljo to be able to wrestle with Henry. He is a gold Olympic (wrestling) medalist, obviously. He’s’ never been taken down in his UFC fights. So with Aljo being able to do that and get his back, Aljo wasn’t able to get his submission game going. I know he’s the better grappler, but I felt that Henry did enough to win the fight. Going into the fifth round, I had it even – 2-2 – and I felt Henry did enough to become the new champion,” Johnson asserted.

Despite the disappointing outcome, Johnson expressed his pride in his friend Cejudo’s performance after a three-year hiatus from competition. Cejudo’s ability to return and showcase his skills against a formidable opponent like Sterling left Johnson in admiration. Additionally, Johnson emphasized the importance of staying active as a fighter, acknowledging the challenges of a prolonged layoff and praising Cejudo’s ability to overcome them.

In conclusion, the electrifying clash between Aljamain Sterling and Henry Cejudo at UFC 288 captivated the combat sports world. While Sterling claimed the victory and the bantamweight title, Demetrious Johnson, a seasoned champion himself, believes that under ONE Championship rules, Cejudo’s fortunes might have been different. With his words resonating throughout the mixed martial arts community, the debate surrounding the impact of different rulesets continues to fuel the excitement and anticipation for future clashes between elite fighters.