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Aljamain Sterling targets featherweight debut against calvin kattar at UFC 299: ‘That could be the fight’

Aljamain Sterling is ready to conquer a new weight class. The former UFC bantamweight world champion surrendered his 135-pound…

Aljamain Sterling is ready to conquer a new weight class.

The former UFC bantamweight world champion surrendered his 135-pound crown to current titleholder Sean O’Malley in August, forcing the ‘Funk Master’ to make a tough decision. He could either stick around at bantamweight and be inevitably forced to fight his friend and fellow contender, Merab Dvalishvili, or walk away from the division and test out his skills at 145.

During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Aljamain Sterling not only suggested that his rumored featherweight debut could come as early as UFC 299 in March, but he has a pretty good idea of who it could be against.

“The realistic scenario is probably myself and Calvin Kattar,” Sterling said. “He’s the only one, I think, who doesn’t have a fight; he’s been out for a bit as well. At this point, by March, I’m probably going to be out for a bit as well, so with that being said, that could be the fight.

“But a Max Holloway fight would be a nice one too. Two former champions going at it, Max doesn’t really have much to do right now unless he’s going to up to 155 pounds; that’s just speculation, but if he gets busy, or, if I should say, if he gets bored, you know Max, the best is ‘Blessed’ but you know the ‘Funk’ has something to say about that as well” (h/t Sportskeeda).

Aljamain Sterling says Calvin Kattar is the "realistic" opponent for his featherweight debut, and it could happen at UFC 299. pic.twitter.com/QRglt6kC7Q

— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) December 15, 2023

A win over Kattar Would Immediately Put Aljamain Sterling into the featherweight title picture

Aljamain Sterling has previously pushed for a fight against former featherweight champion Max Holloway, but with ‘Blessed’ eyeing a potential move to lightweight, a clash with Calvin Kattar appears to be the next best option for Sterling.

Kattar has been on the shelf since suffering a torn ACL in the opening seconds of the second round against Arnold Allen at a UFC Fight Night event in October 2022. Despite losing three of his last four inside the Octagon, ‘The Boston Finisher’ is still occupying the No. 7 spot in the featherweight rankings.

A win over Kattar could immediately thrust Aljamain Sterling into the division’s top ten and put him within reach of a fight against reigning champion Alexander Volkanovski.

Aljamain Sterling Moves on From Max Holloway Fight, Targets Calvin Kattar for featherweight debut

Aljamain Sterling is already moving on from his proposed clash with former featherweight titleholder Max Holloway. Following his loss…

Aljamain Sterling is already moving on from his proposed clash with former featherweight titleholder Max Holloway.

Following his loss to Sean O’Malley at UFC 292, the ‘Funk Master’ appeared to be all, but ready to move on from the bantamweight division. Featherweight looks to be in his future and Sterling was hoping that a clash with Holloway would serve as his divisional debut.

Unfortunately, that no longer appears to be the case as Sterling is shifting his focus from ‘Blessed’ to another perennial contender at 145, Calvin Kattar.

“I think I got a little bit of clarity today,” Sterling said on his YouTube channel. “I spoke with my manager, my fiance, and we kind of went over some things and scenarios. One of the things we realized is maybe the Max fight isn’t gonna come to fruition.

“At this point, I just think he has bigger opportunities in the sense of whether or not he’s going up a weight class or the opportunity of if he were to wait to see what happens between [Ilia] Topuria and ‘Volk’ [Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February 2024]. It can completely open up a brand new door for him to go back to sitting on the throne.“

“So, I guess you kinda gotta play chess at this point in both of our careers, and I would just imagine this fight doesn’t make a ton of sense to him right now,” he continued. “But whoever I do fight next in the 145-pound division, it might be Calvin Kattar. If you guys want to get a message out for me, respectfully.”

“I don’t know, Calvin, we could do this, see when your knee is ready to go, and much respect to you guys and your team. I think March or April would be cool. UFC 300 or maybe we could jump on that Miami card in March” (h/t MMA Mania).

Kattar has been out of action since suffering a torn ACL against Arnold Allen at UFC Vegas 63 in October 2022. The Boston Finisher’ has dropped three of his last four inside the Octagon, including losses to Max Holloway, Josh Emmett, and the aforementioned Allen.

Even so, Kattar holds the No. 7 spot in the featherweight rankings, making him a prime target for Aljamain Sterling to quickly climb into the top ten of his new weight class.

Aljamain Sterling eyes featherweight debut with Max Holloway in UFC return: ‘It’s a good stylistic fight’

Former undisputed bantamweight champion, Aljamain Sterling has confirmed plans for a featherweight division leap in his return to the…

Former undisputed bantamweight champion, Aljamain Sterling has confirmed plans for a featherweight division leap in his return to the Octagon early next year, eyeing a fight with former division champion, Max Holloway in his first venture at the weight class.

Sterling, who headlined UFC 292 back in August most recently, suffered a spectacular second round TKO loss to arch-rival, Sean O’Malley in the pair’s championship fight in Boston, Massachusetts, seeing his record-setting title reign come to a crashing halt.

As for Holloway, the Hawaiin striker extended his winning run to two straight fights back in August at UFC Singapore, turning in a devastating third round knockout win over former multiple-time title challenger, Chan Sung Jung. The win came after a unanimous decision win for Holloway over British contender, Arnold Allen earlier this year in another main event slot.

Aljamain Sterling eyes “stylistic” fight with Max Holloway next

Sharing his thoughts on his immediate fighting future, Sterling stressed his interest in fighting Holloway in his first venture to the featherweight limit in the opening quarter of next year, claiming the bout represented a good “stylistic” clash for him.

“It’s a good stylistic fight,” Aljamain Sterling told The Schmo. “I don’t think he’s (Max Holloway) fought someone with the wrestling pedigree. I mean, he’s fought a guy with good grappling, BJJ, but he couldn’t get the takedown and get the control that he needed to utilize that grappling. I could utilize the grappling and I could utilize the wrestling. Just gotta be smart, a little bit more patient, not like the last fight, of course.”

“I think after having this long of a break, I just feel more refreshed, more refined, and I feel like the time off has given me more clarity and will get me back to the old me and not making rushed mistakes,” Aljamain Sterling explained. “I don’t know. That fight, it is what it is. It happened. We’re just ready for the next step.”

Who wins in a future fight: Aljamain Sterling or Max Holloway?

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Aljamain Sterling eyes featherweight bow against UFC star Max Holloway: ‘I go out there and beat that man’

Sidelined from the Octagon since an August championship loss, former bantamweight kingpin, Aljamain Sterling appears confident in proving apparent doubters wrong of a planned featherweight move – immediately weighing up a clash with ex-champion, Max Holloway. Sterling, a former undisputed bantamweight champion under the banner of the promotion, most recently headlined UFC 292 back in […]

Sterling, a former undisputed bantamweight champion under the banner of the promotion, most recently headlined UFC 292 back in August in Boston, Massachusetts, suffering a second round TKO loss to rival, Sean O’Malley.

The defeat came as Sterling’s first as champion, having racked up a record-setting three successive successful title defenses, knocking back the trio of Petr Yan, and T.J. Dillashaw, as well as former two-division champion, Henry Cejudo.

Announcing plans for a featherweight move in search of a superfight with undisputed champion, Alexander Volkanovski before his title loss to Montana native, O’Malley, Uniondale wrestling ace, Sterling, has apparently been doubted about his ability to be successful a division higher.

Aljamain Sterling open to featherweight fight with Max Holloway next

However, according to the former champion, he would fancy his chances at the featherweight limit, including in an initial landing against former undisputed champion, Holloway.

“[Daniel Cormier] was saying that he likes me, but he doesn’t think I should fight Max Holloway,” Aljamain Sterling said on his YouTube channel. “That kind of just makes me want to go up right out of the gate and call him out and say, ‘I wanna show you guys what’s up.’ I know he [Cormier] said I struggled with O’Malley’s height and size, but I’m like, did I actually struggle? I made one mistake compared to the first round, where mostly I was disciplined.”

“To say I would struggle, that kinda gets me going,” Aljamain Sterling continued. “That kinda gets me wanting to be like, ‘Okay, I’ll show you guys what’s up.’ I don’t think people really understand big-body Aljo, what he can do compared to scrawny but shredded Aljo. It’s just different manpower. Max (Holloway) is the man, bro. Max is the f*cking man. I go out there and beat the man, bro, come on. And I think it erases my mistake – not completely.” (H/T MMANews)

Would you like to see Aljamain Sterling fight Max Holloway in his featherweight debut?

Merab Dvalishvili now open to clash with friend Aljamain Sterling: if UFC offered good money, maybe we can fight’

UFC bantamweight Merab Dvalishvili backtracks decision to never fight teammate and friend, Aljamain Sterling. Prior to Sterling’s loss to Sean O’Malley, he and Merab Dvalishvili were widely considered the best two 135lber’s in the promotion. However, the pair have trained together for years at Serra-Longo Fight Team and are close friends. Both men, and their […]

UFC bantamweight Merab Dvalishvili backtracks decision to never fight teammate and friend, Aljamain Sterling.

Prior to Sterling’s loss to Sean O’Malley, he and Merab Dvalishvili were widely considered the best two 135lber’s in the promotion. However, the pair have trained together for years at Serra-Longo Fight Team and are close friends.

Both men, and their coaches, have said that they would not be willing to fight one another citing their relationship.

“One thing is for sure: we’re never going to fight. Me and Aljo, we’re never going to fight each other,” Dvalishvili said before his bout with Marlon Moraes.

“To do that and to really try to fight each other and try to hurt each other, I go meet his family, he goes and meets my family. He goes to my country, Jamaica. I go to his country, Georgia. Dude, it’s just not even right,” Sterling said earlier this year.

Later in this same interview, Sterling did say that he would consider the fight if they offered him a big pay cheque, employing that it would need to be rather sizeable

Merab Dvalishvili makes u-turn

Now it seems though that Dvalishvili, who has been the one to strongly defend the position since Sterling became champion, would in fact be willing to take the fight. Talking on the MMA Hour, Dvalishvili stated that the UFC never made an official approach to make the fight and that he would consider it if the money were right.

“UFC never offered Aljo or me to fight each other,” Dvalishvili said. “I don’t understand why they complain to us (about) not fighting. Yes, of course I say I don’t wanna fight Aljo, and I don’t wanna fight Aljo. But if UFC offered fight, and UFC maybe offered good money, and we are maybe in a situation where there is no one else that we can fight, then maybe me and Aljo, we sit like always and maybe we can fight.” (H/T MMA News)

Continuing, Dvashvili reiterated that like Sterling, the money could entice him.

“But now they make a big deal, like, Aljo is always booked,” Dvalishvili continued. Aljo versus Petr Yan, then next TJ Dillashaw, after Henry Cejudo, and then they make him come back quick and give him (Sean) O’Malley. They never offered myself! They never offered me Aljo. I don’t understand why people complain. Of course I don’t wanna fight Aljo, like I said. But like Aljo said in one of his interviews, if UFC offered money, yeah, maybe we fight if there is no one else.”

Merab Dvalishvili appearing on The MMA Hour

Who would win, Merab Dvalishvili or Aljamain Sterling?