Aljamain Sterling, who is set to face Henry Cejudo in the UFC 288 main event in Newark, New Jersey, has found a way to steady his mind before a fight. He plays chess on his phone, which he believes is like physical warfare. The fighter has turned to his chess app and his support system for balance during highs and lows in his career.
A Quest for Legacy
Sterling is not on a quest to prove he’s a legitimate champion, despite negative buzz on social media around his career. He said that noise has never affected him. The fighter’s greatest strength, per those who know him best, is his ability to stay present with the task in front of him while he fights for his dreams.
A win on Saturday against Cejudo, the former 125- and 135-pound champion and Olympic wrestling gold medalist who will be returning to the Octagon after a three-year retirement, would muzzle the naysayers and solidify Sterling’s bantamweight journey. It would also set up a megafight with star contender Sean O’Malley and an eventual push for the 145-pound crown.
A Legacy Fight
Sterling’s longtime coach, Ray Longo, believes that the fight against Cejudo is a legacy fight for him. “If he wins this, I think there is only one guy left — O’Malley — and then he cleans out the division.” Fighting in his hometown of Uniondale, New York, Sterling already feels mentally at home. Although he understands the stakes attached to the fight, he does not allow it to consume him.
Sterling’s supporters are prepared for him to encounter the same haters even if he gets the win. They’ll point out that Cejudo is a 36-year-old who last fought on May 9, 2020. Despite criticism, Sterling remains strong and comes from humble beginnings. Sterling is not only a real champion, but one of the best in the UFC.
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