Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
A very compelling UFC bantamweight fight is in the works for May.
We don’t know if the UFC’s event in San Diego will proceed as planned due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but as of now the promotion is looking to book fights for that card.
TSN reported on Monday that a bantamweight matchup between top contenders Aljamain Sterling and Cory Sandhagen is in the works for the May 16th event. Current UFC rankings have Sterling and Sandhagen respectively ranked #2 and #4.
Sterling (18-3) is on a four-fight winning streak, most recently dispatching Pedro Munhoz at UFC 238. His other victories during this stretch have come against Jimmie Rivera, Cody Stamann, and Brett Johns. Plans for Sterling to welcome Frankie Edgar to 135 lbs at UFC 244 fell through when Aljamain underwent wrist surgery, and he’s been on the mend since then.
Sandhagen (12-1) is a perfect 5-0 inside the Octagon and is coming off an impressive unanimous decision win over Raphael Assuncao at last August’s UFC 241. He was due to fight Edgar at UFC Raleigh in January, only for Edgar to fight Chan Sung Jung in December. When Edgar got knocked out, Sandhagen was left without an opponent and pulled from the card.
Earlier this month, Sandhagen claimed that he’d accepted a fight with former bantamweight king Dominick Cruz for this same show, but that Cruz turned it down.
Now this is all fine and dandy, buuuuuuuut gyms are closed across the country and I think Sterling got his point across.
I don’t even have access to my gym anymore. It’s been a complete ban for everyone and you guys think I’m taking a fight? Yea, ok.
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) March 24, 2020
The UFC San Diego main event is a lightweight bout between former interim champion Dustin Poirier and rising star Dan Hooker.