Sterling Calls Out Featherweight Division
Former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling made headlines calling for a UFC featherweight title shot, criticizing other featherweights as 'dumb' and declaring 'I'm gonna prove them wrong again.' Sterling is signaling an intent to disrupt the current 145-pound title picture after his move up from bantamweight.
Aljamain Sterling's move to the 145-pound division was a calculated decision driven by the "new life new energy" he feels without the grueling weight cuts to 135 pounds. The former bantamweight king has declared his move to featherweight is permanent, stating, "There's no more 135." His debut in the new weight class at the historic UFC 300 was a dominant unanimous decision victory over Calvin Kattar, a seasoned top-10 featherweight. Sterling's "prove them wrong again" mantra is rooted in a career marked by skepticism. He became the first fighter in UFC history to win a championship by disqualification, which led to persistent doubts about the legitimacy of his bantamweight title reign. This narrative followed him into subsequent title defenses, even when he was the betting underdog against formidable opponents like Petr Yan in their rematch and former two-division champion Henry Cejudo. The featherweight division presents a fresh set of challenges and a new mountain to climb. The division is currently reigned by the formidable Alexander Volkanovski, who is anticipated to defend his title against top contenders like Movsar Evloev or Lerone Murphy. For Sterling to get a title shot, he'll have to navigate a shark tank of elite fighters. In his post-fight interview at UFC 300, Sterling acknowledged the nerves of moving up in weight but felt that his performance put the division on notice. He believes he may need one or two more victories to solidify his claim for a title shot, depending on how the championship picture unfolds. His primary motivation remains to once again capture UFC gold and silence anyone who questions his capabilities at 145 pounds.
