A large portion of MMA and betting experts were in agreement about the Aljamain Sterling vs. Henry Cejudo bantamweight title at UFC 288. The majority of knowledgeable UFC followers were convinced that Cejudo would end Sterling’s hot streak and earn back the championship belt. But Sterling held the title after being deemed the winner by a close split decision. The Aljamain Sterling-Henry Cejudo betting trends show that this was not a very good outcome for the gambling community.
Bettors Lose Big on Aljamain Sterling-Henry Cejudo Bout
BetMGM had Cejudo as a slight favorite (-120) over Sterling (+100) despite being the challenger. Per data analyst John Ewing, most of the money came in on Cejudo. According to the report, just 51% of bets were on the Cejudo moneyline, but 66% of the money was on the favorite.
There were also several large wagers placed on Cejudo, including one bettor at DraftKings Sportsbook who confidently placed $10,000 on Cejudo to come away from the Octagon victorious. New users at DraftKings can place any $5 wager on future MMA fights and receive $150 in bonus bets with this link!
After the fight, many fans and Cejudo backers voiced their displeasure with the judges’ decision. It was certainly a close call, but even Cejudo admitted he was not 100% sure he did enough to win the fight.
“I just don’t know, Joe. I just don’t know. You tell me. It was close but Aljamain did his job, he got the victory. It sucks man, I hate losing but it’s also been three years,” Cejudo told Joe Rogan after the loss (per SI).
Cejudo now has a lot to think about and hinted at going back into retirement. As for who gets the next shot at the bantamweight title, knockout artist Sean O’Malley is the next man up to challenge Sterling. “Sugar Sean” entered the ring to confront and challenge Sterling after the fight, and UFC president Dana White said he’s looking at potential dates for an O’Malley-Sterling card.
While it was a close call, Sterling once again quieted his doubters on Saturday night. The Aljamain Sterling-Henry Cejudo betting report shows that the triumph cost many bettors out there some coin. Those looking to get more action on future UFC events should be sure to check out OddsShopper tools to find all the best value!
