Fighter’s petty act sparks ugly post-fight scenes as chaos reigns

Two warriors came face-to-face in the cage after a blockbuster fight, but it was a fellow fighter who lit the fuse with one move.

Sterling and O'Malley face off

The UFC 288 main event was overshadowed by ugly scenes that unfolded following the bantamweight title fight.

Aljamain Sterling defended his title against returning star and former two-division champ Henry Cejudo in a split-decision victory.

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Sterling had his hand raised after the judges scored the bout 48-47 x 2, 47-48. But it was during his post-fight interview when things took a spicy turn.

The champ called out Sean O’Malley who watched the fight from the front row and shortly after hearing his name he made his way into the octagon.

As he came face-to-face with the champ, O’Malley stripped off his leather red jacket as the two men barked back and forth at each other.

But it was when they became separated and Joe Rogan attempted to push on with the interview when things turned ugly.

As the two fighters were jawing at each other, fellow bantamweight fighter Merab Dvalishvili did something that got under the skin of O’Malley.

Dvalishvili grabbed the red leather jacket and chucked it on before he climbed on top of the cage and celebrated with a raucous New Jersey crowd.

O’Malley didn’t take kindly to the act and went after the fighter forcing UFC boss Dana White and security to come between the two men.

Sterling attempted to get involved before it was all broken up and the fighters were escorted out of the Octagon.

The winner of Aljamain Sterling vs. Henry Cejudo fight 👉🏼 Merab Dvalishvili! For stealing Sean O’Malley’s jacket! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 #UFC288pic.twitter.com/L4Du9mNizC

— âšœ WHO DAT Cool Breesy âšœ (@Steve2duhO) May 7, 2023

Sterling etched his name into the UFC record books after taking care of Cejudo in a fight that came down to a flip of the coin.

The victory on Sunday makes it 14 wins in the division, most in bantamweight history. It also gives him the longest win streak in bantamweight history with nine and it was his third straight title defence which is also the most in bantamweight history.

The loss left Cejudo questioning what would be next. In what was his first fight inside the Octagon since September, 2020 he pushed the champ all the way.

Sterling is still king. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

UFC 288 RESULTS

Main Event

Aljamain Sterling def. Henry Cejudo by SD (47-48, 48-47, 48-47)

Belal Muhammad def. Gilbert Burns by UD (50-45, 49-46 x2)

Yan Xiaonan def. Jessica Andrade by TKO (R1)

Movsar Evloev def. Diego Lopes by UD (29-28 x2, 30-27)

Charles Jourdain def. Kron Gracie by UD (30-27 x3)

Prelims

Matt Frevola def. Drew Dober via TKO (R1)

Kennedy Nzechukwu def. Devin Clark by TKO (R2)

Khaos Williams def. Ronaldo Bedoya by SD (27-30, 29-28 x2)

Virna Jandiroba def. Marina Rodriguez by UD (29-28 x2, 30-27)

Early Prelims

Parker Porter defeated Braxton Smith via TKO (R1, 2:10)

Ikram Aliskerov defeated Phil Hawes via TKO (R1, 2:10)

Joseph Holmes defeated Claudio Ribeiro via TKO (R2, 3:21)

Originally published as Fighter’s petty act sparks ugly post-fight scenes as chaos reigns