[ad_1]
NEW YORK – UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling is looking for a big prize and has named who he thinks best fits the bill.
Fresh off his second defense of his title, Sterling is confident he can beat anyone the UFC sees fit for his next challenge. He’s already said he doesn’t plan to resume his career until mid-2023, but he’s not too worried about who he’ll face next.
“I’ll yell at their ass no matter what,” Sterling told reporters at a news conference on Thursday. Who are the candidates?I don’t believe in drawing a line.I believe in doing things the hard way, the way I had to.There were no handouts. I had to fight almost everyone in the top 5, top 10. There was no shortcut to jumping over the line and moving up for a title shot opportunity.
“I think you remember that the UFC weren’t so keen to give me the shot I got, even when I fought the number one contender. And who knows why?” Maybe it’s my style, it seems okay when the Dagestani do it, but it’s weird when I do it, what I’m trying to understand is like this weird disconnection. Maybe it’s because I’m not Dagestan, I had to shave my mustache and I think I’ll be fine.”
At UFC 280, Sterling defeated former champion TJ Dillashaw by TKO in the second round. In fact, in the previous fight that same night, bantamweight star Sean O’Malley defeated former champion Petr Jan by split decision. Sterling thinks it’s exactly what O’Malley is looking for to boost the box office, given his massive fan base.
“If I had to pick someone, give me a money fight,” Sterling said. You might think, “Oh, you’re just going to beat him and steam him back.” I think anyone would do that.
“So he can catch me the same way I beat him, and it will be a short night for him. Just as he will catch me, it will be a short night for me.” I guess.
[ad_2]
Source link
