Tag: Aljamain Sterling

Aljamain Sterling on Partying With Jon Jones: Coke, Drinks—Nothing Stops That Man

Aljamain Sterling on Partying With Jon Jones: Coke, Drinks—Nothing Stops That ManJon Jones has been known to indulge in vices like drinking and… other things. Saturday night will see ‘Bones’…

Aljamain Sterling on Partying With Jon Jones: Coke, Drinks—Nothing Stops That Man

Jon Jones has been known to indulge in vices like drinking and… other things.

Saturday night will see ‘Bones’ return to the Octagon for the first time in 20 months when he puts his undisputed heavyweight title on the line against former two-time champion and consensus heavyweight GOAT Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 in Madison Square Garden. It will be Jones’ first time putting his gold up for grabs following a quickfire submission victory over Ciryl Gane in March 2023.

Jon Jones

During a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, former bantamweight titleholder Aljamain Sterling recounted a pre-fight night out on the town with Jones early on in their respective careers.

“He offered me a couple shots at the bar, and I was fighting in like – I think I told him four or five weeks, and he was fighting in like two weeks,” Sterling explained. “This is in the UFC, when we were in upstate New York. I was at Team Bomb Squad, he had just left down to New Mexico, down to [Jackson Wink MMA Academy]. And I was like ‘Am I doing something wrong?’

“Something’s not mathing, like the math ain’t mathing right now. But then I watch him on TV, he’s going out there and he obliterates the competion, And I’m like, ‘I think there’s something to be said about that.’”

Sterling credits jon jones’ ‘meticulous preparation’ for his continued success

Despite a host of legal issues and very public problems with both alcohol and cocaine, Jon Jones has been dominant throughout his career, winning world titles in two different divisions and amassing a (mostly) perfect record with wins over some of the biggest names in MMA history.

Jon Jones

Sterling credits much of Jones’ success to his painstaking preparation that seemingly offsets his more questionable choices outside of the Octagon.

“I think he’s very meticulous in his preparation with getting the looks that he needs to see,” Sterling continued. “The same way that he didn’t take the short-notice fight with Chael Sonnen. He’s not that guy. He wants to make sure he’s got the utmost edge on you in terms of knowing you inside and out before he’s accepting a fight and knowing that he knows you better than you know yourself.

“And I think when you have someone who’s that dedicated to what they’re trying to do – that’s a dangerous person…I don’t know if a couple of drinks are gonna stop you. Coke, whatever it is, I don’t think any of that is gonna stop you. I think as long as you’re in shape, you’re ready to go” (h/t MMA Knockout).

Aljamain Sterling: I Have The Style To ‘Neutralize’ Ilia Topuria’s Offense

Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling is confident he could hand featherweight kingpin Ilia Topuria his first defeat in mixed martial arts. Topuria continued to pave a violent path toward greatness on MMA’s biggest stage this past weekend when he headlined the UFC 308 pay-per-view in Abu Dhabi alongside fan favorite Max Holloway. Eight months […]

Continue Reading Aljamain Sterling: I Have The Style To ‘Neutralize’ Ilia Topuria’s Offense at MMA News.

Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling is confident he could hand featherweight kingpin Ilia Topuria his first defeat in mixed martial arts.

Topuria continued to pave a violent path toward greatness on MMA’s biggest stage this past weekend when he headlined the UFC 308 pay-per-view in Abu Dhabi alongside fan favorite Max Holloway.

Eight months on from his crowning at the expense of Alexander Volkanovski, “El Matador” added a successful defense to his résumé by becoming the first to knock the previously indestructible Holloway out.

Having gotten past two of the division’s best this year, many are wondering who at 145 pounds could unseat the Spaniard. During a recent podcast episode uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sterling put his name in the hat.

‘Funk Master,” who won his featherweight debut against Calvin Kattar at UFC 300 this past April, explained how his style could pose problems for Topuria that both Volkanovski and Holloway’s did not.

“I ain’t standing with that guy. I would never stand and trade with that guy! I saw comments from the reaction, ‘You should change weight classes.’ I thought that was so funny… I made a joke, ‘I want to go back to 135,’” Sterling joked. “I’ll point to the ground but I’ll do my running man dance instead.

“If I were to fight him, god willing, I beat Movsar and I do get the crack, I do think I have a great style to neutralize his offense,” Sterling continued. “Most of these guys are striking with him. I ain’t doing that, bro! I ain’t doing that. We’re sitting there looking for a takedown. I have to make it a grappling match. I’m trying to the the W, I’m not trying to get my brain and my head sent to the next dimension again. I’m cool on that.”

When fans reacted to those remarks on social media by taking aim at his striking, Sterling hit back and defended his boxing.

Before looking ahead to a potential chance to prove that against the champ down the line, Sterling must first blemish a different undefeated record.

After their clash fell off the UFC 307 card earlier this month, the #9-ranked Sterling is set to share the cage with top-five contender Movsar Evloev at the UFC 310 PPV in Las Vegas on Dec. 7.

Should “Funk Master” remain unbeaten at featherweight, perhaps a shot at Topuria’s gold and two-division glory will await him in 2025.

Continue Reading Aljamain Sterling: I Have The Style To ‘Neutralize’ Ilia Topuria’s Offense at MMA News.

UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling Gets New Date

MMA News has you covered with this week’s UFC matchmaking bulletin, featuring all the additions to upcoming cards. With UFC events being held most weekends, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby have their matchmaking work cut out if they’re to fill them, meaning new bouts are confirmed each and every week. Between Monday, September 23, and […]

Continue Reading UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling Gets New Date at MMA News.

MMA News has you covered with this week’s UFC matchmaking bulletin, featuring all the additions to upcoming cards.

With UFC events being held most weekends, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby have their matchmaking work cut out if they’re to fill them, meaning new bouts are confirmed each and every week.

Between Monday, September 23, and Sunday, September 29, a few notable fights were made official by the UFC or reported by reputable sources. For more information on those matchups, check out the links below:

A number of lower-profile matchups also came together. For those, check out this week’s quick hits:

But it wasn’t all positive, with two fights being adjusted. For those, see below:

Continue Reading UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling Gets New Date at MMA News.

‘Done Nothing But Make Excuses…’ – Fans Fed Up After Latest Aljamain Sterling Rant About Sean O’Malley Title Fight

On a recent episode of Demetrious Johnson’s MightyCast, former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling joined him as a guest. As you’d expect, at one point, the conversation turned to Sterling’s fight with Sean O’Malley at UFC 292 where he lost the bantamweight title, which he has spoken about a lot since. “Funkmaster” was pretty open […]

Continue Reading ‘Done Nothing But Make Excuses…’ – Fans Fed Up After Latest Aljamain Sterling Rant About Sean O’Malley Title Fight at MMA News.

On a recent episode of Demetrious Johnson’s MightyCast, former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling joined him as a guest.

As you’d expect, at one point, the conversation turned to Sterling’s fight with Sean O’Malley at UFC 292 where he lost the bantamweight title, which he has spoken about a lot since.

“Funkmaster” was pretty open about the fact that he didn’t want to fight “Suga” when the UFC wanted him to.

Having just defended his title against Henry Cejudo, Sterling wanted some time off, instead of jumping back into another training camp.

He spoke about this and how it affected him in the podcast episode.

“For a guy who’s already depleted, it’s not like I had a lot to lose so to do that drastic weight cut in such a short amount of time, I knew I was like fighting an uphill battle. I’m like, you know, I told my manager no probably like five different times but eventually, somehow, I was eventually convinced to take it.”

MMA Fans React To Aljamain Sterling Talking About The Decision To Fight Sean O’Malley

Sterling has come out and said that though he could have and probably should’ve put his foot down to have the best chance of winning this fight, he was persuaded to take it and that’s how it played out.

However, fans are beginning to become a little fed up over Sterling talking about how his loss was partly down to being cajoled against his wishes to take the fight.

They voiced their opinions in the comment section underneath the video.

“He’s done nothing but makes excuses while refusing to give Sean credit.”

“The more Aljo talks, the more I realise I don’t actually like him”

“Excuses delusions, misplaced blame and anger and victim mentality effect some fighters so much they can’t see reality. Tyrone Woodly and Aljo are 2 of the damn worst.”

“Who else is sick of all this victimhood.”

“Dana hated both of these guys as champions.”

“Sean o malley had broken ribs and couldn’t grapple and he still fought aljo and whooped him”

“Bro is STILL talking about this?? Aljo, let it go man.”

“You got merked, accept it like a man.”

Read also: Sean O’Malley’s Coach Reveals UFC Rules He Would Change: ‘Aljo Does It…’

Continue Reading ‘Done Nothing But Make Excuses…’ – Fans Fed Up After Latest Aljamain Sterling Rant About Sean O’Malley Title Fight at MMA News.

‘Done Nothing But Make Excuses…’ – Fans Fed Up After Latest Aljamain Sterling Rant About Sean O’Malley Title Fight

On a recent episode of Demetrious Johnson’s MightyCast, former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling joined him as a guest. As you’d expect, at one point, the conversation turned to Sterling’s fight with Sean O’Malley at UFC 292 where he lost the bantamweight title, which he has spoken about a lot since. “Funkmaster” was pretty open […]

Continue Reading ‘Done Nothing But Make Excuses…’ – Fans Fed Up After Latest Aljamain Sterling Rant About Sean O’Malley Title Fight at MMA News.

On a recent episode of Demetrious Johnson’s MightyCast, former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling joined him as a guest.

As you’d expect, at one point, the conversation turned to Sterling’s fight with Sean O’Malley at UFC 292 where he lost the bantamweight title, which he has spoken about a lot since.

“Funkmaster” was pretty open about the fact that he didn’t want to fight “Suga” when the UFC wanted him to.

Having just defended his title against Henry Cejudo, Sterling wanted some time off, instead of jumping back into another training camp.

He spoke about this and how it affected him in the podcast episode.

“For a guy who’s already depleted, it’s not like I had a lot to lose so to do that drastic weight cut in such a short amount of time, I knew I was like fighting an uphill battle. I’m like, you know, I told my manager no probably like five different times but eventually, somehow, I was eventually convinced to take it.”

MMA Fans React To Aljamain Sterling Talking About The Decision To Fight Sean O’Malley

Sterling has come out and said that though he could have and probably should’ve put his foot down to have the best chance of winning this fight, he was persuaded to take it and that’s how it played out.

However, fans are beginning to become a little fed up over Sterling talking about how his loss was partly down to being cajoled against his wishes to take the fight.

They voiced their opinions in the comment section underneath the video.

“He’s done nothing but makes excuses while refusing to give Sean credit.”

“The more Aljo talks, the more I realise I don’t actually like him”

“Excuses delusions, misplaced blame and anger and victim mentality effect some fighters so much they can’t see reality. Tyrone Woodly and Aljo are 2 of the damn worst.”

“Who else is sick of all this victimhood.”

“Dana hated both of these guys as champions.”

“Sean o malley had broken ribs and couldn’t grapple and he still fought aljo and whooped him”

“Bro is STILL talking about this?? Aljo, let it go man.”

“You got merked, accept it like a man.”

Read also: Sean O’Malley’s Coach Reveals UFC Rules He Would Change: ‘Aljo Does It…’

Continue Reading ‘Done Nothing But Make Excuses…’ – Fans Fed Up After Latest Aljamain Sterling Rant About Sean O’Malley Title Fight at MMA News.

Sean O’Malley’s Coach Reveals UFC Rules He Would Change: ‘Aljo Does It…’

Many rules have been a bone of contention in MMA circles as they can vary across promotions. For instance, the UFC doesn’t allow knees to grounded opponents or 12-6 elbows, unlike ONE Championship. On the flip side, moves like eye pokes, groin strikes, and headbutts are banned across all major promotions for obvious safety reasons. […]

Continue Reading Sean O’Malley’s Coach Reveals UFC Rules He Would Change: ‘Aljo Does It…’ at MMA News.

Many rules have been a bone of contention in MMA circles as they can vary across promotions. For instance, the UFC doesn’t allow knees to grounded opponents or 12-6 elbows, unlike ONE Championship. On the flip side, moves like eye pokes, groin strikes, and headbutts are banned across all major promotions for obvious safety reasons.

Obeying the rules of the promotion and the commission you’re fighting under is very important for fighters. Jon Jones lost to Matt Hamill via DQ because he landed multiple 12-6 elbows and similarly, Petr Yan lost his UFC bantamweight championship for landing an illegal knee on Aljamain Sterling.

Sean O’Malley’s coach Tim Welch believes a couple of rules in MMA should change to stop fighters from exploiting them…

Sean O’Malley’s Coach Reveals How Aljamain Sterling Exploits A UFC Rule And Wishes To Get It Changed

Welch was asked about the MMA rules he would change on his official YouTube podcast, recently. Right away, he mentioned that fighters should be able to upkick opponents on top of them.

It is worth noting that upkicks from the ground to a standing opponent aren’t illegal in the UFC. In fact, Niko Price and Jon Fitch finished their opponents via upkicks in the promotion.

However, it is illegal to upkick an opponent while their knees are down. Back in May 2021, Randa Markos was disqualified for kicking Luana Pinheiro from the ground while the latter’s was sitting on the ground.

Charles Oliveira is notorious for landing upkicks too. He threw one at Islam Makhachev that could’ve knocked the Dagestani fighter out. Even against Tsarukyan, he landed an illegal upkick as the opponent’s knees were grounded following which the referee warned “Do Bronxs” and stopped the action temporarily.

Welch, though, believes that the upkicks to a grounded opponent should be legal in the UFC. Another tactic he dislikes is fighters staying in a safe front headlock position to rest up as they cannot be kneed during the time.

Welch called out Sterling for exploiting the grounded fighter rule sometimes and a great example of this is when “Funkmaster” took on Henry Cejudo. During multiple exchanges when Aljo would shoot for a takedown and fail, he would immediately bend his knees, leaving Cejudo with no viable moves.

“The upkicks. If some f*****g guy’s on top of you, on his knees, whatever, you should be able to upkick him to his f*****g lips. I think that front headlock one too. People shoot into a front headlock and they can hang out there without getting damage and almost rest there. I mean, Aljo does it sometimes but to be able to knee the top of their head, boom, boom, boom, so they can’t rest there. So if you shoot in a front headlock, you fail on a shot, you got to pull the half guard and get to your back or you got to make a move. Not just sit in that frontlock thinking I’m safe.”

Continue Reading Sean O’Malley’s Coach Reveals UFC Rules He Would Change: ‘Aljo Does It…’ at MMA News.