UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling holds an open workout for the public on Long Island on Friday, April 28 before his highly anticipated fight at UFC 288 with former double champion Henry Cejudo.
The event was held at LAW MMA in Garden City, where Sterling has been training for the upcoming fight. [Keep scrolling to see photos from the training session.]
Determined to make Cejudo regret ever calling him out, Sterling showed off his impressive technique and gave fans a glimpse of what to expect on fight night. The Uniondale native is currently on the high of an eight-game winning streak and boasts an impressive 22-3 record.
Sterling said his goal is to finish Cejudo in the second round, preferably by knockout. “I want to blow the lights out on this guy,” he said during an open practice.
Sterling has been training at LAW MMA, owned by former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman, and he has been working hard to prepare for the upcoming fight. His opponent, Cejudo, is a former lightweight and bantamweight champion who announced his retirement from the UFC in 2020 after defeating Dominic Cruz.
The trash talk between Sterling and Cejudo started last April after Sterling beat Yan, leading to the upcoming match in May. Sterling is eager to prove his worth and made a statement against Cejudo, with the open trial just one of many steps he is taking in preparation for the game. Fans attending the event got a sneak peek and were no doubt excited for the much-anticipated bout between two of the UFC’s best bantamweight fighters.
After he’s done handling business, you might see him celebrating on Long Island, Sterling said.
“After this fight, you might find me at the RVC or Johnny McGorey’s bar [in Massapequa],’ he told Crowded House. “If you see me, come over and say, ‘What’s wrong. ‘”
teammate on card
In addition to Sterling’s upcoming fight with Cejudo, his teammate Matt Frevola (a Huntington native) will also be at UFC 288. Frevola will take on world No. 13 lightweight Drew Dober in what will be an exciting fight.
Frevola has been training with Sterling in LAW MMA and is no stranger to the UFC Octagon. With a 10-3-1 record, Frevola looks to make a name for himself at lightweight and climb the ranks. He’s coming off an impressive first-round knockout win over Ottman Azaitar at Madison Square Garden.
His opponent, Dober, is a veteran of the sport with a 26-11-0 record. These two fighters are sure to put on a show for the fans in a close fight.
Both Sterling and Frevola represent Long Island, and fans in the area will undoubtedly be rooting for them as they look to make their mark in the UFC.
battle on long island
Aljamain Sterling expressed his desire to fight on Long Island, where he was born and raised.
The UFC bantamweight champion noted that until 2016, he never had the opportunity to fight professionally on the island due to mixed martial arts being illegal in the state.
He said he wanted to play a game at the UBS Arena or the Nassau Coliseum before he retired.
“I’d love to fight on Long Island,” he told Big Long Island. “That would be a dream come true. Especially in the gym, because I grew up in Uniondale.”
