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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.

Paulo Costa’s manager claims fight with Robert Whittaker at UFC 299 is a ‘Done Deal’ on their end

Paulo Costa has been waiting to hear back from the UFC in regards to a potential middleweight clash with…

Paulo Costa has been waiting to hear back from the UFC in regards to a potential middleweight clash with perennial contender Robert Whittaker next year.

That is according to Tamara Alves, Costa’s girlfriend and manager, who told MMA Fighting via text message that they have been eagerly awaiting a response on the potential clash for weeks, seemingly suggesting that Whittaker’s team are the ones who have been dragging their feet on getting the fight signed.

“I would like to make it clear, we have been asking for the fight between Paulo and Whittaker for weeks,” Alves wrote.

Whittaker’s representative, Titus Day, offered a different take during an interview with Fox Sports Australia, saying Costa had “vanished” and that the one-time title challenger was “just playing f*cking games again.”

Alves snapped back at Day’s comments claiming that any delay in negotiations is not the doing of her client.

“I don’t know what was his intention in saying that Paulo is playing games,” she wrote. “If he wants, he can call me and we can talk about what’s really going on without telling lies and assumptions about any athlete.”

Alves claims that Costa vs. Whittaker is a ‘Done Deal’ on their side of things

Tamara Alves also clarified that, while no bout agreement has been signed, “the deal is done” on their end and they are just waiting for the UFC to determine a suitable date for the middleweight clash.

“We’re just waiting for the company answer,” she wrote. “Besides, the UFC 299 on March 9th in Miami is perfect for Paulo, and we already expressed our desire for this date. This will be an exciting fight for the fans!”

Paulo Costa has not competed inside the Octagon since scoring a bizarrely entertaining unanimous decision against Luke Rockhold at UFC 278 in August 2022. The Eraser’ has been booked for two separate fights, including a meeting with Ikram Aliskerov in July and a showdown with Khamzat Chimaev in October, both of which fell through.

Robert Whittaker’s last appearance came at UFC 290 over the summer. ‘The Reaper’ suffered a second-round knockout to South African standout Dricus Du Plessis. Before the loss to ‘Stillknocks,’ Whittaker’s only two defeats dating back to 2019 came at the hands of two-time titleholder Israel Adesanya.

With ‘The Last Stylebender’ taking an extended break from fighting, Whittaker could find himself back in the title picture should he net himself an impressive win over Costa.

Jailton Almeida Rebooks Fight with curtis blaydes for uFC 299 in Miami

Heavyweight grappling sensation Jailton Almeida will return to the Octagon on March 9 for a rescheduled showdown with Curtis…

Heavyweight grappling sensation Jailton Almeida will return to the Octagon on March 9 for a rescheduled showdown with Curtis ‘Razor’ Blaydes.

Emanating from The Magic City of Miami, Florida, UFC 299 will feature the first title defense of newly crowned bantamweight world champion Sean O’Malley. After scoring a stunning second-round knockout against Aljamain Sterling in August, ‘Sugar’ will put his title on the line against the only fighter to beat him inside the Octagon thus far, Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera.

In the only heavyweight bout currently announced for the card, Almeida will look to continue his meteoric rise up the divisional ladder against the man he was originally scheduled to fight at UFC Sao Paulo last month.

Jailton Almeida (6-0 UFC, 20-2 MMA) has been working his way up the division since making his promotional debut in May 2022 with a first-round submission over Parker Porter. ‘Malhadinho’ followed that up with an impressive showing against Anton Turkalj and Shamil Abdurakhimov.

Since then, Almeida has seen a significant step up in competition against the likes of Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Derrick Lewis. After walking through ‘Bigi Boi’ with a first-round submission, he put a beating on ‘The Black Beast’ for five rounds when the promotion returned to his home country.

Curtis Blaydes ready to get back into the win column against jailton almeida

Curtis Blaydes (12-4 UFC, 17-4 MMA) will look to get back into the win column after seeing his three-fight win streak snapped at the hands of Russian knockout artist Sergei Pavlovich.

To his credit, Blaydes’ three losses under the UFC banner have come against some of the heaviest hitters in the history of the division, including Derrick Lews, Francis Ngannou, and the aforementioned Sergei Pavlovich. ‘Razor’ was originally slated to fight Jailton Almeida on November 4 in Brazil, but an ankle injury sidelined their clash with many wondering whether or not it would be rebooked.

Fights currently scheduled or in the works for UFC 299 include:

Sean O’Malley vs. Marlon Vera (UFC bantamweight championship)
Gilbert Burns vs. Jack Della Maddalena
Jailton Almeida vs. Curtis Blaydes
Mateusz Gamrot vs. Rafael dos Anjos
Pedro Munhoz vs. Kyler Philips
CJ Vergara vs. Asu Almabaev
Katlyn Chookagian vs. Maycee Barber

Card is subject to change.

robert Whittaker targets UFC 300 return, Paulo Costa fight axed: ‘He’s just playing games again’

Former undisputed middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker may have verbally agreed to fight former title challenger, Paulo Costa at UFC…

Former undisputed middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker may have verbally agreed to fight former title challenger, Paulo Costa at UFC 299 in March, however, the ex-titleholder will now target a UFC 300 return instead, with his manager claiming the Brazilian is still “playing games” on a bout with his client.

Whittaker, the current number three ranked middleweight contender, most recently featured on the main card of UFC 290 back in July during International Fight Week, dropping a stunning second round TKO loss to incoming UFC 297 headliner and title challenger, Dricus du Plessis.

Suffering his first loss at the middleweight limit to any contender other than former two-time foe and champion, Israel Adesanya, Whittaker has the subject of a call out from Brazilian ace, Costa, who claimed he was prepared to fight him in the opening quarter of next year.

And himself targeting a fight in March at UFC 299 – which is currently slated for a Miami, Florida landing pad, Whittaker tagged Costa in a post on his official social media – adding fuel to the fire of a once-planned pairing.

However, as far as the ex-champion’s manager, Titus Day is concerned, a UFC 300 return against former undisputed welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman is on the New Zealand-born fighter’s radar, who accused Costa of “playing games again” during a recent interview with Fox Sports Australia.

Robert Whittaker targets UFC 300 clash with Kamaru Usman

Himself talking up the possibility of fighting former pound-for-pound number one, Usman in the future, Whittaker urged the Auchi native to remain at the 185 pound limit amid a recent divisional bow against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 back in October.

“Definitely, the (Kamaru) USman fight interests me because I just think we are both guys that are at the tip of the food chain and I want to give him a proper welcome to the middleweight division,” Robert Whittaker told Submission Radio. “I just like that fight… he’s one of the best welterweights to do it and I think fighting fights of that calibre makes me excited. It’s a face I haven’t fought before, it’s exciting, it’s different.”

Would you like to see Robert Whittaker fight Kamaru Usman next?

Jiri Prochazka makes offer to fight Aleksandar Rakic in Octagon return at UFC 299 in Miami

Former undisputed light heavyweight champion, Jiri Prochazka has offered to step-in for fellow former titleholder, Jan Blachowicz in a…

Former undisputed light heavyweight champion, Jiri Prochazka has offered to step-in for fellow former titleholder, Jan Blachowicz in a clash with the returning, Aleksandar Rakic – offering the Austrian-born contender a showdown at UFC 299 in March of next year in Miami, Florida.

Prochazka, a former undisputed light heavyweight champion, most recently headlined UFC 295 at the beginning of last month, suffering a second round TKO loss to former middleweight kingpin, Alex Pereira in the pair’s vacant light heavyweight title showdown at Madison Square Garden.

As for Rakic, the current number five ranked contender has yet to feature since he suffered a third round TKO due a brutal knee injury suffered against the aforenoted Pole, Blachowicz in the pair’s main event clash back in May of last year.

And slated to return to the Octagon on the main card of UFC 297 in January, Rakic was booked to take on Blachowicz in a rematch on the Canada card, however, the latter has been forced from the re-run through injury, and is set for surgery.

Weighing up a quickfire return to the Octagon following a recent welcome to Khamzat Chimaev to make a stunning light heavyweight divisional leap, Czech Republic favorite, Jiri Prochazka offered to fight Rakic in an all-European outing – receiving a slew of responses from the latter.

“You said February or March,” Aleksandar Rakic replied to Jiri Prochakza. “I accepted and offered you February 17th. Now you’ve gone quiet. Where’s your Samurai code now? Sign the contract, big boy, sign the contract. @jiri_bjp.”

Jiri Prochazka suggests UFC 299 for fight with Aleksandar Rakic

Suggesting a rescheduled pairing at UFC 299 in March – which currently features a bantamweight title main event rematch between Sean O’Malley, and former-foe, Marlon Vera, Prochazka welcomed the chance to compete in ‘The Sunshine State’.

“March 9 Miami?” Jiri Prochakza posted on his official X account.

Who wins in a future clash: Jiri Prochazka or Aleksandar Rakic?

Deiveson Figueiredo predicts win over uFC star Sean O’Malley in future title fight: ‘I will finish him’

Making a successful bantamweight division landing overnight on the main card of UFC Austin, former undisputed flyweight champion, Deiveson…

Making a successful bantamweight division landing overnight on the main card of UFC Austin, former undisputed flyweight champion, Deiveson Figueiredo has claimed he would “finish” defending gold holder, Sean O’Malley if they ever fight – particularly if the fight ends up on the ground.

Figueiredo, a former two-time undisputed flyweight champion, made his long-anticipated bantamweight divisional bow at UFC Austin overnight, taking home a one-sided unanimous decision win over perennial contender, Rob Font.

Making his first Octagon walk at the 135 pound limit, Brazilian veteran, Figueiredo had been sidelined since he suffered a flyweight title fight loss to fellow former champion and four-time foe, Brandon Moreno courtesy of a doctor’s stoppage TKO back in January of this year.

Displaying his grappling chops as well as some notable and heavy counter striking, Figueiredo, 35, is likely to crack the bantamweight top 10 with his victory over New England Cartel staple, Font in ‘The Lone Star State’.

Deiveson Figueiredo plans finish over Sean O’Malley in title fight

However, immediately suggested as an opponent for former undisputed bantamweight champion, Petr Yan in the Russian’s impending return to competition, Figueiredo has claimed if he was offered the opportunity to take on Montana striker, O’Malley for gold, he would finish him on the ground.

“I feel ready to fight anyone for the championship,” Deiveson Figueiredo told assembled media through a translator after UFC Austin. “I’ve earned it. And if they [the UFC] want to put me – this is a division that has incredible people to fight against. Rob (Font) is an incredible fighter, and I was able to prove that. So, if they want to put me in a fight for the belt, for the championship, I’ll take it.”

“Sean O’Malley is an incredible fighter and an excellent striker but, you know, I’ve been training with Henry Cejudo, I believe in my team, I trust my team, I trust the strategy and the gameplan that they put on,” Deiveson Figueiredo continued. “And, you know, I’m a Jiu-Jitsu guy, I’m a grappler. I just don’t like to use it, I didn’t use it as much. But this is where I am. And I do feel that if I fight against Sean O’Malley, if we get to the ground, I will finish him.”

Who wins in a future title fight: Sean O’Malley or Deiveson Figueiredo?