Aljamain Sterling looks back at UFC 292 loss; Discusses future plans
Aljamain Sterling recently reflected on his title loss to Sean O’Malley at UFC 292. ‘Suga’ defeated the ‘Funk Master’ via a second-round TKO to claim the undisputed 135-pound title last weekend. With the most wins, most consecutive title defenses, and longest win streak in divisional history, Sterling is considered the most dominant 135-pound champion ever.
In the second round of the fight, Sterling shot an overextended left hand. ‘Suga’ saw it coming and countered with a cracking overhead right hand that sent Sterling crashing to the canvas. A follow-up barrage of shots by O’Malley forced the referee to step in and end the contest at round two’s 51-second mark.
In the aftermath of the fight, Aljamain Sterling was notably calm and composed. Despite many claiming that the referee stopped the contest too early, the ‘Funk Master’ made no such complaints.
In a recent video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sterling looked back on his devastating title loss and outlined the lessons he’s learned, stating:
“If there’s anything I want people to take away, it’s perseverance. Being resilient and not giving up on yourself… You can only control what you do… Sean’s chasing a dream, just like anybody else… So, I’m actually happy for the guy.”
Speaking about his future plans, Sterling said:
“I would love to get that rematch. Love to get that rematch. Not till 2024 though.”
Watch the full video below:
Aljamain Sterling on Merab Dvalishvili getting the next title shot against Sean O’Malley
It’s no secret that Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili are close friends and training partners. Due to their relationship, ‘The Machine’ maintained his distance from the bantamweight title picture and chose to respect his friendship with Sterling. However, with the belt now in Sean O’Malley’s hands, the path is clear for Dvalishvili.
While Sterling previously stated his intention to move up to featherweight after fighting O’Malley, to give Dvalishvili a clear shot at the 135-pound title, it seems those plans may be postponed. However, the ‘Funk Master’ is true to his word and wants Merab Dvalishvili to go for the title shot.
In the aftermath of the UFC 292 headliner, Sean O’Malley called out Marlon Vera for a rematch. If that doesn’t materialize, Aljamain Sterling is eagerly waiting for a rematch as well. If both those fights fall through, ‘The Machine’ could find himself facing O’Malley as his first title challenger.
In a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Aljamain Sterling claimed he would be training Dvalishvili for a title bid. He said:
“Now Sean is the guy… It’s up to me to hopefully get the rematch, and if not get the rematch, maybe Merab gets his strike. I’ll be there to help him prepare for that fight. We’ll see what’s next. Until then I’m happy to just sit on the sidelines, take my vacation, and take time to get better. So we’ll see what’s next for me in 2024.”
Watch the full video below:
