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UFC champ Aljamain Sterling slams Sandhagen’s lack of ‘growth’ in the Octagon, addresses potential rematch

Aljamain Sterling, like many of us, was left disappointed by the UFC Nashville main event between Cory Sandhagen and Rob Font. Fans inside the Bridgestone Arena were treated to some memorable moments and highlight-reel-worthy finishes, but neither one occurred during the evening’s bantamweight headliner. Throughout the 25-minute affair, ‘The Sandman’ put his ground game on […]

Aljamain Sterling, like many of us, was left disappointed by the UFC Nashville main event between Cory Sandhagen and Rob Font.

Fans inside the Bridgestone Arena were treated to some memorable moments and highlight-reel-worthy finishes, but neither one occurred during the evening’s bantamweight headliner. Throughout the 25-minute affair, ‘The Sandman’ put his ground game on display and stymied the offense of Rob Font every step of the way. It was an undeniably dominant performance, but far from what fans and UFC President Dana White were hoping to see. Especially with a potential title opportunity hanging in the balance.

Looking back on the uneventful five-rounder, reigning bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling expected to see Font show more urgency in his opportunity to leapfrog into the division’s top-five rankings.

“That main event, I gotta call it what it is,” Sterling said on his YouTube channel. “That was as duck as it gets. I really thought there was going to be a complete opposite turn of events. I figured Rob Font was really gonna come out looking to insert himself. I know he was pressuring forward.

“I’m trying to be respectful and at the same time reasonable in my analysis with this. I just think Font has a lot of holes when it comes to grappling. You can’t just go for a kimura hoping to get off your back with just that. You need a little more than that in your backpack. Your tools, so to speak. I was honestly pretty disappointed with his lack of ability to be able to get back to his feet. I think he might have gotten up once maybe twice out of the five or six takedowns that he’s giving up. That’s tough, man.”

Aljamain Sterling is Not Concerned About Potential Rematch with Cory Sandhagen

‘Funkmaster’ was also critical of Sandhagen’s performance, claiming that ‘The Sandman’ did little to earn himself a title opportunity, let alone suggest that a rematch between the two would go any different than it did the first time around.

“Font, he wanted it. Sandhagen, he wanted it,” Sterling said. “The difference is nobody showed that they wanted the next title shot with a definitive win. Respectfully, when I fought Sandhagen that was my No. 1 contender fight and I definitively shown that I was the next guy in line. Finished him in less than two minutes.“

In June 2020, Aljamain Sterling only needed 88 seconds to submit Cory Sandhagen via a rear-naked choke. The performance earned ‘Funkmaster’ his bantamweight title opportunity against Petr Yan at UFC 259 nearly a year later.

“Now people are saying the rematch is gonna be different,” Sterling continued. “Guys, there’s not much different that I can say will happen in the rematch other than it might go a little bit longer. I haven’t seen the growth from the top position and let me be fair, I know he hurt his tricep, possibly tore it. He had positions where he could have capitalized and done a lot of cool things with the dominant positions that he had and he just kind of chose to stay on top and just coast his way to the finish [line]” (h/t MMAFighting).

Sterling made it clear that he doesn’t see anything wrong with Sandhagen’s more measured approach against Rob Font but reiterated that it’s not the type of showing that earns you a title fight in one of MMA’s most stacked divisions.

“I’m not saying that’s wrong,” Sterling said of Sandhagen’s safer approach. “I’m just saying if you want to insert yourself into the next title shot to fight for the vacant title after I’m done mopping up O’Malley, you leave so much room for doubt where you got Merab who’s already a shoo-in. Who’s his next competitor?”

Aljamain Sterling mocks Cory Sandhagen’s performance in UFC Nashville win: ‘Respectfully, this fight was sh*t’

Attending last night’s headliner at UFC Fight Night Nashville between former opponent, Cory Sandhagen, and New England Cartel staple, Rob Font, undisputed bantamweight champion, Aljamain Sterling has described the headlining bout as a “sh*t” – amid a wrestling-heavy display from Sandhagen, en route to a dominant judging win. Sterling, the current undisputed bantamweight champion, is […]

Sterling, the current undisputed bantamweight champion, is slated to take main event honors at UFC 292 next weekend in Boston, Massachusetts – taking on the surging Sean O’Malley in a fourth attempted title defense.

Earlier this year, Uniondale native, Aljamain Sterling managed to land a close, split decision win over former undisputed flyweight and bantamweight champion, Henry Cejudo in Newark, New Jersey – becoming the first gold holder in the division’s history to land three successful title defenses in the UFC.

Aljamain Sterling blasts Cory Sandhagen’s victory at UFC Nashville

And with a keen eye on last night’s headliner between former opponent, Sandhagen, and Font – Sterling described the pairing as “sh*t” – likely criticizing a wrestling and grappling-heavy display from the surging former foe.

“Respectfully, this fight was sh*t,” Aljamain Sterling posted on his official X account.

Respectfully, this fight was shit. #UFCNashville

— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) August 6, 2023

Sharing the Octagon with Colorado back in June 2020 in a bantamweight title-eliminator, Serra-Longo MMA staple, Sterling managed to land his first title charge off the back of a stunning opening round submission win over Sandhagen – submitting the latter in less than two minutes with a blistering rear-naked choke.

Receiving significant criticizm for his performance against short-notice replacement, Font, Sandhagen, who was originally booked to fight the streaking, Umar Nurmagomedov, revealed he suffered a tricep injury in the early goings of last night’s main event in Tennessee – sporting a sling around his right arm and shoulder following his unanimous decision triumph.

Last night’s victory came as Sandhagen’s third on the trot – prior to a split decision win over Marlon Vera earlier this year, and a prior doctor’s stoppage win over Song Yadong last year in a headliner at the UFC Apex facility.

Video – Aljamain Sterling shows off crazy physique ahead of UFC 292: ‘This is what a crash diet looks like’

Returning to the Octagon next weekend atop UFC 292 in Boston, Massachusetts, undisputed bantamweight champion, Aljamain Sterling looks to be in the shape of his career as he looks to turn in another successful title defense, taking on the surging Sean O’Malley. Sterling, the most prolific bantamweight champion in the history of the organization, most […]

Sterling, the most prolific bantamweight champion in the history of the organization, most recently headlined UFC 287 back in May of this year in Newark, New Jersey – defeating former two-weight champion, Henry Cejudo in a close split decision win in the latter’s return from a three-year retirement.

For the Uniondale native, the victory over Olympic gold medalist, Cejudo propelled him to three successful title defenses – following prior wins over fellow former champions, T.J. Dillashaw, and Petr Yan – separating him from his peers as the most successful defending titleholder at bantamweight.

And booked to headline next weekend in the TD Garden, Sterling draws the current number two-ranked, Sean O’Malley – whom has been sidelined since he landed his own close decision win over common-foe, Petr Yan at UFC 280 back in October of last year in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Aljamain Sterling stuns fans with stunning physique

Claiming he has cut down to near-championship weight as a result of a “crash diet” on his official X account this Thursday evening, Serra-Longo MMA staple, Sterling showed off a huge physique ahead of his championship return in Massachusetts.

“This is what a crash diet looks like,” Aljamain Sterling posted on X. “#SnapTheTwig #4TimeFunk #AndStill #TWS”

Unifying and defending the bantamweight championships against Dudinka native, Yan last year in Florida, Sterling would return on that same UFC 280 card back in October in the Middle East – stopping the former two-division champion, Dillashaw with a one-sided win, courtesy of a slew of second round ground strikes for a TKO stoppage.

Aljamain Sterling looks to land his fourth title defense at UFC 292 next weekend

Aljamain Sterling reveals retirement timeline ahead of UFC 292: ‘I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately’

Ahead of his return to the Octagon at UFC 292 next month, undisputed bantamweight champion, Aljamain Sterling has revealed that while he is still attempting to feather his nest ahead of a potential retirement – he has been thinking about walking away from the sport for some time, and when that date may actually come. […]

Sterling, the current undisputed bantamweight champion, is slated to headline UFC 292 in August at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts – taking on the surging number two ranked contender, Sean O’Malley.

Returning to the Octagon this year back in May, Sterling landed a close, split decision win over the returning former undisputed bantamweight and flyweight champion, Henry Cejudo – defending his title successfully against the Olympic gold medalist.

The victory came as Uniondale native, Sterling’s third as defending bantamweight champion, separating himself from prior championship holders.

Aljamain Sterling reveals plan for potential retirement

Confirming plans to make a featherweight division leap regardless of result against Montana native, O’Malley next month, Sterling – who has also been offered a title fight against 145lbs champion, Alexander Volkanovski last week, revealed a potential timeframe for his retirement from combat sports.

“I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately,” Aljamain Sterling said on The Weekly Scraps. “I don’t know, man, I’ve been taking this one fight at a time. I think I’m a that age where I haven’t made enough money. The motivation is still money and making my safety egg of when I retire, that my interest will pay my salary monthly, what I would like to comfortably live off while doing other things.”

“Podcasting – maybe coaching on the side, maybe being a school teacher, who knows?” Aljamain Sterling explained. “Maybe being an analyst for the UFC or ESPN, something like that. I think there’s a lot of opportunities that I have on the table, and then I’ve got my rum company that’s coming out. That could be my next new venture, and potentially getting into the restaurant business. But i do think I have at least five more wins in me to hit that 20 win club in the UFC.” (Transcribed by MMA News)

Unbeaten in his last nine consecutive fights, during his title run, Sterling has defended the crown against former champions, Petr Yan, T.J. Dillashaw, and the aforenoted, Cejudo.

Alexander Volkanovski offers Aljamain Sterling title fight after UFC 292: ‘He can go straight to me’

Off the back of his impressive title unification win at UFC 290 earlier this month, now-undisputed featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski has offered his bantamweight champion counterpart, Aljamain Sterling an immediate featherweight title fight – ahead of his expected division swansong at UFC 292 next month. Headlining UFC 290 last weekend during International Fight Week, Australian […]

Headlining UFC 290 last weekend during International Fight Week, Australian technician, Volkanovski stopped then-interim champion, Yair Rodríguez with a late third round series of strikes, retaining the featherweight crown for the fifth consecutive occasion.

Alexander Volkanovski welcomes Aljamain Sterling to challenge him for gold

Linked with both an October lightweight title rematch with Islam Makhachev at UFC 294 in October, as well as a featherweight title defense against the surging Georgian contender, Ilia Topuria next, New South Wales favorite, Volkanovski has also welcomed a title fight with Uniondale native, Sterling next to boot.

“Aljo’s (Aljamain Sterling) in a position where if he gets – how many defenses that’ll be, that’ll be four or five – four defenses I think – if he was to take out Sean O’Malley – and I think that’d be great for his career, that’s definitely another one,” Alexander Volkanovski said on his YouTube channel.

“I think – as I’ve already said, if he does that, he’s paid his dues,” Alexander Volkanovski explained. “He deserves it. So I’ll definitely welcome him to the featherweight [division]. I think he doesn’t need to go through anyone. I think he can go straight to me and let’s see if he takes the loss and stays at 145 (pounds) or takes the loss and tries to go back down to bantamweight.” (Transcribed by MMA News)

Slated to make his own Octagon return at UFC 292 in August, Sterling, the most prolific bantamweight champion in the history of the promotion, holds three consecutive successful title knockbacks.

Headlining the pay-per-view event in Boston, Massachusetts, Sterling takes on the streaking number two ranked challenger, Sean O’Malley.

Aljamain Sterling voices concern ahead of UFC 292 return: ‘I’m going to fight literally against my will’

Slated to headline UFC 292 in his return to the Octagon in August, undisputed bantamweight champion, Aljamain Sterling has made no bones regarding his qualms with the coming together of his title fight with Sean O’Malley – insisting he is fighting against his will this summer. Sterling, the current undisputed bantamweight champion, has been booked […]

Sterling, the current undisputed bantamweight champion, has been booked to headline on August 19. at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts – taking on the number two ranked bantamweight contender, O’Malley, as he attempts to defend his crown for the fourth occasion.

Featuring just earlier this year in May, Sterling took home a record-setting third successful bantamweight title defense, besting the returning former two-division champion, Henry Cejudo in a close, split decision triumph in New Jersey at UFC 288.

Aljamain Sterling says he’s fighting against his will at UFC 292 in August

Making his issues with UFC president, Dana White as well as the booking of his return on such short-notice against Montana native, O’Malley well known, Serra-Longo MMA staple, Sterling, has claimed that when he competes later this summer, he will be doing so against his own will.

“People don’t understand how much time I actually put into this sport,” Aljamain Sterling said on his YouTube channel. “Sometimes you could get a little burned out. Sometimes that can take a lot out of you actually. That’s why, after this fight, I had so much things with Henry (Cejudo), so many things planned out, that I just wanted to decompress and stop thinking about fighting for once because I do so much to get to the fight and prep myself to mentally get ready for battle”

“I had that just kind of ripped from underneath my legs,” Aljamain Sterling continued. “Now, I’m like, ‘Okay, this time you motherf*ckers are not doing this to me again.’ I’m going to fight, even though it’s literally against my will. People can say whatever – if Dana (White) were to hear this, Hunter (Campbell) were to hear this, they would say, ‘We’re not making him do anything.’ Let’s be real here, bro. Come on, dude – you kind of are. Let’s call a spade a spade.” (Transcribed by MMA Fighting)

Ahead of his bantamweight title return to boot, Sterling confirmed he will likely make a move to the featherweight limit off the back of UFC 292, citing a continually draining weight cut which has plagued him for some time.