The UFC bantamweight champion, Aljamain Sterling, has his pick of the litter when it comes to his next opponent. With Sterling handily defeating Petr Yan in his first title defense, Sterling appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience to clarify his expectations for his next Octagon outing.
Specifically, he expects the UFC to choose an opponent for him from the elite crop of bantamweights, with former featherweight champ Jose Aldo looking like the “hardest fight” in the division, and a legacy builder for the “funk master”.
Aljamain Sterling Wants Jose Aldo, the “Hardest Fight” at Bantamweight
“I think [the UFC] knows who’s the money fight and who moves the needle. I don’t know if it’s Aldo who moves the needle. I know T.J. definitely moves the needle — you can ask USADA. Then Cejudo, so there’s options.
If I’m going to be honest, if I just want to fight, like which one would be the best for my legacy? I think T.J. or Aldo in terms of like, ‘I fought this guy.’
Even a [Dominick] Cruz. For some reason, I feel like the hardest fight out of all of them is Aldo.”
Aljamain first attained the bantamweight championship via unconventional means. He fought Petr Yan, then-champion, and when Yan landed an illegal knee to Sterling’s head while he was grounded, Yan was stripped of the title, which was awarded to Aljamain Sterling. Attaining the title via DQ is hardly any fighter’s game plan, but it should come as no surprise that he wants to be an unconventional champion.
“Right now if it was my choice, I mean I feel you’d want to pick the fighter you feel like you would definitely beat, right?
For a title defense, I feel like you would want to do that so you could keep the belt as long as you can. Make some money.” Why wouldn’t he rather take the toughest competition and build a legacy in one of the most competitive divisions in the sport? “Because that’s f****** stupid.
These guys are so stupid. It annoys me. I’m an honest guy. I would want to pick the fight that I feel I would have the easier time with and keep that belt. I’m trying to cash out. I’m trying to get paid. You’re not in this position all the time.” Sterling expects to fight again this year.
“Probably September. I think that’s the next Vegas card. “I’m supposed to get news either today or tomorrow who they want us to be the next guy. So what I am going to do? I am going to release that information as soon as I get it, but it’s going to be on my podcast.”
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