Aljamain Sterling, a former top UFC bantamweight, has expressed doubts about being able to return to the division`s weight limit.
Following his thirteenth consecutive victory, achieved by defeating Sean O’Malley at UFC 316, many are now considering the current champion, Merab Dvalishvili, to be the bantamweight `GOAT` (Greatest Of All Time).
The conversation about the bantamweight GOAT naturally includes other prominent fighters such as Dominick Cruz, TJ Dillashaw, and Dvalishvili`s teammate, Aljamain Sterling.
According to Dvalishvili himself, Sterling holds the title of the greatest bantamweight ever, highlighting his 15 wins and 3 successful title defenses in the weight class.
Sterling moved up from the bantamweight division in 2023 after losing his championship belt to O’Malley and has primarily competed at featherweight since then.
Aljamain Sterling Considered a Potential Return to Bantamweight
Sterling, who previously held the bantamweight championship before transitioning to featherweight, revealed in a conversation with Home of Fight that he considered a return to the 135-pound weight class earlier this year.
“I did think about it,” Sterling stated regarding the possibility of returning to bantamweight.
He explained his thought process: “When I woke up in the morning, I was like 161.”
“I was like, maybe I could make 135 again,” Sterling added.
However, the idea was short-lived. “But then, my weight bounced back up to 168 lbs and I was like, yeah, that was a good thought for the moment, but it’s not happening…”
More recently, Sterling has expressed interest in a rematch against Sean O’Malley, claiming he was operating at only 50% capacity during their initial fight at UFC 292.
Sterling currently holds the #9 ranking in the UFC featherweight division and has a 1-1 record there, having secured a win over Calvin Kattar but suffering a loss to the undefeated Movsar Evloev.
At 35 years old, Sterling remains focused on his pursuit of a second UFC title, aiming for success in the 145-pound division.
Recalling Sterling`s Quick Submission Victory Over Cory Sandhagen
‘Funkmaster’ had a remarkable run in the UFC bantamweight division, notably defeating four former champions – a feat also achieved by his teammate Dvalishvili.
Sterling`s list of significant bantamweight victories includes wins over Petr Yan, TJ Dillashaw, and Henry Cejudo, in addition to perennial contender Cory Sandhagen, who is widely considered the likely next challenger for Dvalishvili’s title.
Sandhagen`s first professional defeat in the UFC came at the hands of Sterling during their bout at UFC 250 in 2020.
Within the initial 30 seconds of that fight, Sterling quickly closed the distance and expertly secured Sandhagen`s back.
Just over a minute and a half into the match, Sterling locked in a rear-naked choke on Sandhagen, resulting in a submission victory that is remembered as one of the standout performances of Sterling`s career.
This dominant win propelled Sterling into title contention against the then-champion, Petr Yan, the following year.
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