Following the messy aftermath at UFC 259, Petr Yan’s coach thought the explanations Aljamain Sterling gave after the loss were confusing at best. When controversy filled the mixed martial arts atmosphere, Sterling shared his thoughts on his podca…
Following the messy aftermath at UFC 259, Petr Yan’s coach thought the explanations Aljamain Sterling gave after the loss were confusing at best. When controversy filled the mixed martial arts atmosphere, Sterling shared his thoughts on his podcast and his thought process as the events took place in real-time. Additionally, the bantamweight champion provided his […]
Aljamain Sterling doesn’t want to fight Petr Yan again. That’s according to the latter who believes Sterling continues to contradict himself with his statements following his disqualification win at UFC 259 this past weekend to become the new bantamweight champion. “One time he says one thing, different time he says different thing.” Yan said through […]
Aljamain Sterling doesn’t want to fight Petr Yan again.
That’s according to the latter who believes Sterling continues to contradict himself with his statements following his disqualification win at UFC 259 this past weekend to become the new bantamweight champion.
“One time he says one thing, different time he says different thing.” Yan said through his translator to ESPN (via Middle Easy). “Then, the staredown with Cejudo. Everything tells me he doesn’t want to fight me again. He understands he lost this fight, he understand it’s going to happen again. I feel like he doesn’t want to fight me again.”
Yan is referring to Sterling’s tweet where he hinted at fighting former bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo instead of facing Yan in a rematch.
Aljamain Sterling offers to fight a former bantamweight champion, but it's not Petr Yan
In reality, Yan is likely to get a rematch — especially given that he was well on his way to retaining his title before his illegal knee — and the Russian has already agreed to fight again.
He’s even ready to go within a month.
“UFC already reached out to me and asked when I’m ready to fight again.” Yan said. “I already told them I’m ready, one month, two months time. Whenever they want to do it. Like I said I before, I was punished already for what I did. I already lost the belt and the PPV points and whatever comes with becoming a champion.
“Everything happened because the referee told the commission that it was intentional. But I didn’t throw it intentional. Now, the rematch is the only logic thing. The rematch has to happen next.”
As for Cejudo who has repeatedly hinted at returning to action? Like Sterling, Yan has reason to believe “Triple C” has no interest in facing him either.
But should he express an interest in a potential fight, Yan is happy to face him — once he regains his title.
“As you remember, when I became [the] #1 contender for the belt is the time when Cejudo retired,” Yan added. “And now, the first day when I lost the belt, Cejudo started talking about coming back. He doesn’t want to fight me. For me, now the goal is to get the rematch and Cejudo can be next after that.”
UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling is not happy with his DQ win against Petr Yan. ‘The Funkmaster’ won the 135lb strap after Yan threw and landed an illegal knee that ended the fight. Prior to that the Russian seemed to be on his way to making a successful first defence of his title. Sterling was […]
‘The Funkmaster’ won the 135lb strap after Yan threw and landed an illegal knee that ended the fight.
Prior to that the Russian seemed to be on his way to making a successful first defence of his title.
Sterling was initially reluctant to accept the belt but was later pictured with it over his shoulder as he celebrated with family and friends, something which sparked an angry reaction from the former champ.
During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Sterling said he doesn’t feel like a champion and did not celebrate winning the belt.
“I didn’t post a single picture of me celebrating like I won anything,” Sterling said. “I won by default. I don’t feel like a champ. I didn’t post anything for that specific reason. Normally, after every fight, I post something. I post something in celebration of what happened. I made a post of me being out with my fiancee. Not me having the belt because the people put it on my shoulder like, ‘You deserve this. No, you deserve it. Put it on. Put it on.’ I didn’t want that. They flew all the way here. They paid their money. They came to the house. They gave me support. If they want to do that, OK, I understand it. I can’t tell them to put their phones away and not post anything if they want to post.”
Sterling says he for the most part stayed away from alcohol after taking a concussive knee from Yan.
“I didn’t drink,” Sterling said. “I had a sip of a champagne. I had a toast and said pretty much, ‘I’m sorry I let everyone down. I know you guys are still proud of me and I will validate the belt when I get this rematch. Hopefully, the next one I feel a lot better. I felt off. I’m sorry and I know you guys know my trainings are way more intense than my fight and we will get the next one. Just thank you guys for all coming out.’ I took a sip, I didn’t drink for the rest of the night. A couple hours later, I threw up. That’s my celebration for everyone who says I was out there, ra-ra-ing.”
The 31-year-old is now intent on proving he can keep the pace for five rounds and beat Yan in a highly anticipated rematch.
“In terms of my mind and how things went, I don’t feel like the champ,” Sterling said. “That’s the motivation right there, to show the world I can keep that pace for 25 minutes. … I’m always going to try to find a way when there is time on that clock. I think the fans definitely would (recognize that) or maybe they do, maybe they don’t. Maybe they’d appreciate that in terms of my tenacity and how I come to the octagon. I plan on coming out of the gate the same exact way, so I hope he’s ready for that. He better be ready for that.”
Do you believe Aljamain Sterling is the “real” bantamweight champion?
UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling addressed critics who believe he faked an injury after Petr Yan kneed him in the side of his head at the end of their title match at UFC 259 on Saturday, calling them “clowns” and “jokers…
UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling addressed critics who believe he faked an injury after Petr Yan kneed him in the side of his head at the end of their title match at UFC 259 on Saturday, calling them “clowns” and “jokers…
High drama engulfed the UFC Apex last Saturday as Aljamain Sterling won the bantamweight title by disqualification against Petr Yan, and he had a lot to say about the nay-sayers implying the win was illegitimate. The controversy consumed the night afte…
High drama engulfed the UFC Apex last Saturday as Aljamain Sterling won the bantamweight title by disqualification against Petr Yan, and he had a lot to say about the nay-sayers implying the win was illegitimate. The controversy consumed the night after one of the title fights ended with the champion Yan losing his belt due […]
Newly crowned bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling is firing back at anyone blaming him for the outcome of his title fight. Sterling challenged Petr Yan in the first of UFC 259’s three championship fights. As the fourth round came to a close, Sterling found himself on both knees with Yan standing over him. The then-champ inexplicably […]
Newly crowned bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling is firing back at anyone blaming him for the outcome of his title fight.
Sterling challenged Petr Yan in the first of UFC 259’s three championship fights. As the fourth round came to a close, Sterling found himself on both knees with Yan standing over him. The then-champ inexplicably fired a vicious and blatantly illegal knee at the Funkmaster’s head, causing a pause in the fight. Sterling was visibly rocked from the blow, and after a few minutes, referee Mark Smith and the cage-side physician deemed him unable to continue. Sterling was named the winner and new champion by disqualification.
Following the win, sterling threw the title on the ground and told Joe Rogan post-fight that he wouldn’t accept the title that way. However, a number of posts appeared on social media later that night showing Sterling celebrating with friends and family while holding the belt.
Since then, a number of fans, fighters, and even referee John McCarthy have accused Sterling of exaggerating the effects of the knee in order to draw the DQ. In the latest episode of his Weekly Scraps podcast, Aljamain Sterling addressed the controversial finish and the critics of it. First in his crosshairs were the “Russian doctors” – fans of Yan who have been sending Sterling death threats and comparing his reaction to that of Alistair Overeem after he was knocked out by Francis Ngannou (H/T MMA Fighting).
“I do respect that you guys support your athletes,” Sterling said. “With that being said, you guys aren’t freaking doctors. Just because I got a CAT scan and I was cleared does not mean I wasn’t concussed.
“They’ve been comparing to the Francis Ngannou vs. Overeem knockout, and Overeem got up faster than me. That’s ridiculous. Let’s pump the brakes, cool your tits, you guys aren’t doctors.”
Sterling then turned his attention to McCarthy. The veteran referee implied that Sterling chose to stay down and milk the effects of the knee after hearing Smith tell the doctor Yan would be disqualified if he couldn’t continue.
“I can get what he is saying, but when should a fighter or an athlete and a team ever be disqualified?” Sterling said. “If there are rules to disqualify, when do you ever enforce them? I would think a guy throwing a blatant intentional knee, intentional, he lines me up with intent to do damage, he lines me up to put me out. So if the defense is going to be, I don’t think Petr Yan knew, really? You don’t think he knew, what, the rules that he’s been training for for years, that he’s the world champion of, you don’t think he knew the rules that he can’t knee a downed opponent?
“I’m not trying to go tit for tat with you, but when do you disqualify an athlete? I just really want to know, since you’re the golden standard that everyone should go by, what qualifies for a disqualification in ‘Big’ John McCarthy’s eyes, in his opinion, because I don’t know what else you need that needs to be more clear-cut and dry than that. Intentional, intent, damage, the fight. What else do you want?”
Sterling’s harshest words were towards his fellow fighters that have accused him of faking it.
“Shame on you guys,” Sterling said. “You guys ever see me quit or look for a way out where a guy’s putting on a half-ass rear-naked choke. … “You guys are the freaking softies. I fought my ass off the entire time, and I was not going to quit in that fight. I was going to take my lickings or try to find a way to win like a man. There’s no quit button whenever I’m in there.
“You guys are the actors, and it might be a reflection of your own spirits or whatever. Some of you guys are probably cheaters, anyway.”
The Funkmaster remains adamant that he was unaware of what the outcome of the fight would be. He says that he was barely aware of what was happening in the moment, let alone what would happen if he couldn’t continue in the fight.
“In this moment, I’m thinking a whole bunch of things,” Aljamain Sterling said. “‘Dana’s not going to give me another shot at the title. The fight’s going to be a no-contest. Dana’s going to say he was losing the fight in the fourth round, so why should we use him again, we already know the direction the fight was heading, and so we’re going to move on from this.’ These are all the thoughts going through my head. I’m going to have to win three or four more fights to ever fight for a world title – not, ‘I’m going to become world champion.’”
“I didn’t ask for the belt. I wasn’t trying to get a DQ for a win, or for the championship. I just thought I wasn’t going to ever get my shot again, or take a long time to get back to this position. That’s what I was bummed out about.”
Sterling finished off by saying that his sole aim now is to come more prepared for Yan in his next fight and defend his new title. he is brushing off any detractors who are placing the blame for the outcome of his last fight on him and looking towards the future.
“I can’t control a man for doing illegal sh*t,” he said. “Hopefully, the next one is the best one, and I can hold this [belt] up proudly.”
Do you think Aljamain Sterling milked the effects of the knee? Let us know!
Aljamain Sterling doesn’t want to fight Petr Yan again. That’s according to the latter who believes Sterling continues to contradict himself with his statements following his disqualification win at UFC 259 this past weekend to become the new bantamweight champion. “One time he says one thing, different time he says different thing.” Yan said through […]
UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling is not happy with his DQ win against Petr Yan. ‘The Funkmaster’ won the 135lb strap after Yan threw and landed an illegal knee that ended the fight. Prior to that the Russian seemed to be on his way to making a successful first defence of his title. Sterling was […]
Newly crowned bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling is firing back at anyone blaming him for the outcome of his title fight. Sterling challenged Petr Yan in the first of UFC 259’s three championship fights. As the fourth round came to a close, Sterling found himself on both knees with Yan standing over him. The then-champ inexplicably […]