Aljamain Sterling is ready to get paid. The explosive Bantamweight talent and current mixed martial arts (MMA) free agent is prepared to announce which promotion he has decided to align himself with and it will occur on the Monday edition (Feb. 15, 2016) of The MMA Hour.
Sterling’s admission via his official Instagram account:
“How am I feeling? I feel like I’m ready to make a #contract decision! Thank you to my true fans that have supported, followed, and been rocking with me since the beginning of my #mma and #ufc career. To all the new faces, just know the #Funk Express started a while ago, but we’re picking up steam now–ALL-ABOARD!! I’m blessed to be able to make a dollar doing something I love–the ultimate happiness. But in doing so, I’ve realized, “Do what you love so well, that people will pay you for it.” – Some guy. My intent wasn’t to start a revolution. I just want more out of my life and expect more for myself. I’m a proud, strong, Jamaican black man, with ambitious goals and dreams! Don’t like me? Cool, “We have plenty of friends already. We can use a few enemies!” Real Bad Mon Ting, zeen! Decision will be announced THIS #monday on #TheMMAHour show.”
“The Funk Master” is currently the No. 5-ranked bantamweight in UFC’s official rankings, but he has since grown tired of the lack of pay he has received. Other notable fighters have moaned and grown, too.
Sterling, a product of the Serra-Longo Fight Team, has won 12 fight in-a-row, including four straight in UFC. He’s finished three straight opponents overall, including two wins over Top-10 bantamweights Johnny Eduardo and Takeya Mizugaki in 2015.
After becoming a free agent, following his manhandling of Eduardo back in December, Sterling tested the waters and, according to the man himself, courted offers from promotions like Bellator and World Series of Fighting (WSOF).
As it stands, Sterling, along with recent Bellator signee Benson Henderson and fellow free agent Alistair Overeem, is managed by popular agent Malki Kawa of First Round Management. Take that for what you will.
If the Long Islander does indeed decide to leave, he will have left behind some potentially sweet matchups, but in the 26-year-old’s opinion, a title shot is already within his reach.
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