Tag: Aljamain Sterling

Aljamain Sterling says UFC stacked 299 card ‘to make it feel like’ Sean O’Malley is a draw: ‘It’s actually comical’

Aljamain SterlingAljamain Sterling believes Sean O’Malley unwittingly sabotaged UFC 300. On April 13, the UFC will deliver its next big…

Aljamain Sterling

Aljamain Sterling believes Sean O’Malley unwittingly sabotaged UFC 300.

On April 13, the UFC will deliver its next big landmark event featuring a slew of exciting matchups, including the featherweight debut of former 135-pound champ Aljamain Sterling. However, many fight fans have been left underwhelmed by the variety of high-stakes matchups announced. The ‘Funk Master’ believes much of the blame for that can be placed on O’Malley, who is set to headline a loaded UFC 299 card a month before UFC 300.

Speaking with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Aljamain Sterling suggested that the promotion is loading up UFC 299 with some big-money matchups to make Sean O’Malley look like more of a draw than he truly is.

“It’s just kind of funny that the UFC felt the need to stack this card so much to make it feel like Sean is the draw,” Sterling said. “It’s actually comical, because I know people were kind of trying to sh*t on the [UFC] 300 [card].

“I’m like, well, a lot of those fights that people probably would’ve wanted [for UFC 300] were on 299, for whatever reason. It doesn’t take much to kind of draw conclusions — [if] you want to build somebody up, you build [them] up and you bring the other eyeballs with all these other people.”

In December, Sterling was critical of O’Malley’s drawing power after he had received his pay-per-view bonus check from their UFC 292 clash. The promotion has not yet revealed the official buyrate for the event, but reports suggest it was somewhere in the range of 300,000 to 350,000 buys.

Aljamain Sterling Says O’Malley Needs to ‘Be Real’ with himself

In addition to the main event rematch between Sean O’Malley and Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera, UFC 299 is stacked top-to-bottom with intriguing matchups, including the debut of Bellator MMA star Michael ‘Venom’ Page who faces fan favorite Kevin Holland. Fans will also see a lightweight clash between Dustin Poirier and Benoit Saint-Denis and the return of Gilbert Burns who meets Aussie standout Jack Della Maddalena.

O’Malley will be seeking a bit of redemption in the evening’s main event as he runs it back with the only man to hold a win over him inside the Octagon.

“I just think at some point you’ve got to be real with yourself in your analysis when you’re approaching these fights, and I just hope Sean is doing the right things to get himself prepared for this,” Sterling added. “May the best man win. I don’t have a dog in the race. I really don’t care as long as Merab [Dvalishvili] gets the next crack in the title.”

Aljamain Sterling Scores Questionable Split Decision Over Chase Hooper at ADXC-2 Grappling Event

Aljamain Sterling def. Chase Hooper at ADXC-2Aljamain Sterling earned a split-decision victory over Chase Hooper in a No Gi grappling match at the Abu Dhabi…

Aljamain Sterling def. Chase Hooper at ADXC-2

Aljamain Sterling earned a split-decision victory over Chase Hooper in a No Gi grappling match at the Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship event on Friday.

Emanating from the Mubadala Arena at Zayed Sports City, ADXC-2 was the third time we’ve seen the former UFC bantamweight champion put his grappling skills to the test since suffering a brutal second-round knockout loss against Sean O’Malley at UFC 292.

After making appearances under the Polaris and Fury Pro banners, the ‘Funkmaster’ went toe-to-toe with fellow UFC fighter Chase Hooper in an event that also featured notable MMA standouts including Rinat Fakhredinov, Sidney Outlaw, Terrance McKinney, and Douglas Lima.

After going the distance with Hooper, Sterling was revealed as the winner via a closely contested split decision.

“Hooper did some good stuff and I expected that,” Sterling said in a post-match interview. “He was the bigger guy coming into this and I’m trying to transition, going up a weight class so what better way to test my skills than to see how good of a grappler I truly am for MMA and for competition BJJ than going against a guy like that.”

Fans Don’t Agree With Aljamain Sterling’s Split Decision Win

There were many fight fans tuning into the contest who did not agree with the decision in favor of Sterling, some calling the result an outright robbery on social media.

“He even robbing people in grappling competitions. Biggest fraud ever.”

“Robbery”

“SPLIT??”

“Corruption”

“And the crowd goes mild”

“N***a is the goat of split decisions”

“The splitmaster does it again”

After establishing himself as one of the greatest bantamweights in UFC history, Aljamain Sterling will make the move to featherweight at UFC 300 where he is set to square off with division staple Calvin Kattar.

UFC star Aljamain Sterling Furious after ‘Disgraceful’ Grappling loss to Kevin Dantzler at Fury FC

Aljamain Sterling Fury FC Grappling MatchAljamain Sterling was extremely disappointed about his recent loss against Kevin Dantzler at Fury FC and didn’t hesitate to…

Aljamain Sterling Fury FC Grappling Match

Aljamain Sterling was extremely disappointed about his recent loss against Kevin Dantzler at Fury FC and didn’t hesitate to let the world know about it.

Looking to keep busy and enjoy some healthy competition while he recovers from the vicious knockout he suffered at the hands of Sean O’Malley, Sterling has been fairly active in the grappling scene. Back in September at Polaris 25, the ‘Funk Master’ defeated Mike Grundy via unanimous decision.

Aljamain Sterling looked to keep his newly found winning streak alive at Fury FC against Dantzler but went to another decision, and this time it did not go his way.

Aljamain Sterling Blasts Kevin Dantzler for his ‘Disgraceful’ performance

John Morgan would be the one to conduct Aljamain Sterling’s post-fight interview, and let’s just say Sterling was extremely frustrated.

“I don’t even know how they score that,” Sterling began (H/T MiddleEasy). “Another man can’t drag his ass cheeks on the mat and think that’s a win, doing absolutely nothing. I guarantee you, if that was a street fight, my man would never do that shit.”

Anticipating a more fiery contest, it makes sense that ‘Aljo’ would be disgusted with not only the judges’ decision but also his opponent’s lack of desire for an exciting match.

The crowd was enthused now, and a loud menagerie of boos and cheers could be heard wafting from the stands as Sterling continued: “Why are we turning the sport into some type of weird a weird spectacle where you could win a match off of your back doing absolutely nothing? If I did nothing, what the f*ck did he do?”

“I’m just saying, I want to have a fun match,” Sterling shouted. “I told you guys beforehand, I’m trying to get in his head a little bit. Maybe he’ll engage, pull guard from standing up. Don’t just start the match on your butt. That should be deducted a point right out of the gate. Am I wrong? Am I wrong?

The anger was palpable as the ‘Funk Master’ continued: “Let another man drag you by your ankles in front of your loved ones and friends because that is a disgrace!”

What do you think about Aljamain Sterling’s reaction to his loss at Fury FC?

Aljamain Sterling reveals 9-Week drinking, Hookah binge after title loss hampered return: ‘It took a toll on my lungs’

Aljamain Sterling reveals 9-week drinking and hookah binges effect lungs ahead of UFC 300 returnAljamain Sterling reveals he has been drinking regularly and has reached 180lbs. Sterling is set to return to The…

Aljamain Sterling reveals 9-week drinking and hookah binges effect lungs ahead of UFC 300 return

Aljamain Sterling reveals he has been drinking regularly and has reached 180lbs.

Sterling is set to return to The Octagon as part of the UFC 300 card, this time moving up to featherweight to take on Calvin Kattar.

Fans last saw Sterling in August when he dropped his title to Sean O’Malley, ending a 2-year+ reign as champion. Sterling had said prior to this fight that he intended to move up in weight regardless of result after the weight cut had begun to take its toll. 

Aljamain Sterling reveals weight gain 

Being a champion can become a massive part of a fighter’s identity and when they lose it can be difficult to deal with. People deal with it in different ways.

“Right now I’m just tired. I do one to two rounds of striking, and I’m exhausted,” Sterling said. (H/T MMA Junkie) 

“Also (I’m) moving around and trying to do what I do when I’m lighter. Those eight to nine weeks of drinking every single day and hookah non-stop, staying up late at night, it definitely took a toll on my lungs, so I still feel like I’m battling back from and trying to gain all that.”

On top of drinking, Sterling revealed that he has also been enjoying his food, and lots of it. 

“I got a sweet tooth, and even though I’m not only eating candies and chocolates, it almost feels like a bottomless pit,” Sterling continued.

“Like you can’t help yourself. You’re telling yourself to stop eating, but somehow your hands are still moving towards the fridge, your legs are still walking towards the fridge, and your fingers are dialling DoorDash and Uber Eats. Somehow you’re still ordering food when you know you don’t want anything. It’s like a sickness.”

Who wins, Aljamain Sterling or Calvin Kattar?

Bo Nickal books fighting return at UFC 300, ex-Champion Aljamain Sterling set for featherweight debut

Bo Nickal set for return at UFC 300 in fight against Cody Brundage Aljamain Sterling makes featherweight moveUnbeaten middleweight prospect, Bo Nickal is set for his return to the Octagon next year – booking an April…

Bo Nickal set for return at UFC 300 in fight against Cody Brundage Aljamain Sterling makes featherweight move

Unbeaten middleweight prospect, Bo Nickal is set for his return to the Octagon next year – booking an April return against Cody Brundage at UFC 300 as part of what promises to be a monumental card – which overnight received the addition of two former promotional champions to boot.

Nickal, a two-time feature on Dana White’s Contender Series, most recently featured at UFC 290 back in July, landing a stunning first round knockout win over short-notice replacement, Val Woodburn in his sophomore Octagon walk.

Bo Nickal set for high-profile run out on UFC 300 card

In his first UFC start back in March, the 27-year-old amateur wrestling phenom submitted Jamie Pickett with a first round arm-triangle choke submission, earning him a Performance of the Night bonus to boot.

And as per UFC CEO, Dana White, Bo Nickal will take on Cody Brundage at UFC 300 in April of next year – as the card begins to take certain shape.

Booked for a featherweight division debut on the pay-per-view card, former undisputed bantamweight champion, Aljamain Sterling makes his long-anticipated debut at 145 pounds – taking on perennial contender, fellow East Coast feature, Calvin Kattar.

Sterling has been sidelined since he suffered a second round knockout loss to Sean O’Malley in the pair’s championship showdown at UFC 292 back in August of Boston, while the above-mentioned Kattar has yet to feature since suffered a brutal knee injury in a TKO loss to British contender, Arnold Allen.

Also slated for the UFC 300 card is recent headliner, former undisputed light heavyweight champion, Jiri Prochazka, who takes on Austrian contender, Aleksandar Rakic in a high-stakes divisional pairing. 

Prochazka most recently headlined UFC 295 last month, succumbing to second round strikes against Alex Pereira in the pair’s vacant title fight, while another ghastly knee injury has sidelined Rakic since he suffered said setback against former champion, Jan Blachowicz at the UFC Apex facility last year. 

Can Bo Nickal retain his unbeaten record at UFC 300 next year?

Aljamain Sterling, Ji?í Procházka Among Next Fights Announced for UFC 300, More PPVs

The highly anticipated fight card for UFC 300 is starting to take shape, as UFC president Dana White announced three of the bouts scheduled to take place at…

The highly anticipated fight card for UFC 300 is starting to take shape, as UFC president Dana White announced three of the bouts scheduled to take place at…