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Aljamain Sterling calls for title shot following UFC Vegas 116 win
Former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling moved up to the featherweight division in 2024 to try and make a run at a second UFC divisional title. He took a step closer to his goal on Saturday defeating Youssef Zalal in the UFC Vegas 116 main event.Sterling largely dominated Zalal. Since moving up a weight class, "Funk Master" has gone 3-1 with his one loss coming to top contender Movsar Evloev via decision. In his post-fight Octagon Interview, Sterling called for a title shot and stated his case.Advertisement"Movsar, I'm coming for that a** next. [Alexander] Volkanovski, you know I'm coming for that a**," Sterling said."I bring something different to this table, man. None of these guys can do it the way that I do it. I mix it up well. I'm a hard guy to stop for takedown. I've got veteran experience. I know when to push, take my foot off the gas and put it in their a**."Give me my shot now. I've worked so hard for this. I've been in this company 12 years. That was my 23rd UFC fight. I've only fought three unranked guys since I got signed to this company. My third fight in the UFC was a guy ranked sixth in the world and I haven't looked back since. So, put some motherf**king respect on my name when I say I'm next in line for that motherf**king title shot."UFC Vegas 116 Octagon Interview: Aljamain Sterling
Aljamain Sterling calls for title shot after UFC Vegas 116 decision win
After nearly two full slow-paced rounds in the UFC Vegas 116 main event from the Meta APEX Saturday night, former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling found an opening with under a minute left in Round 2 against Youssef Zalal. But it was only the beginning of Sterling’s relentless pace. Several submission attempts, including a fourth-round rear-naked choke opportunity in the closing minutes from Sterling, led to a unanimous decision win across 25 minutes, 49-45, 49-45, 49-45. Sterling (26-5 MMA, 18-5 UFC) was comfortable in all areas against his former training partner, but his objective for the rest of his career is simple. “(Alexander) Volkanovski, you know I’m coming for that ass,” Sterling said, calling for a featherweight title shot. Zalal (18-6-1 MMA, 8-4-1 UFC) was classy in defeat. “I’ve come back before and I’ll come back again,” Zalal said, crediting Sterling’s efforts. Sterling snapped Zalal’s eight-fight unbeaten streak, predicting that with a bit more five-round experience, the Moroccan competitor will find himself fighting for a championship. The co-main event saw UFC women’s bantamweight contender Joselyne Edwards of Panama move a step closer to a title shot with a unanimous decision victory over Brazil’s Norma Dumont, sweeping the scorecards 29-28, 29-28, 30-27. Edwards (18-6 MMA, 9-4 UFC) had little trouble with Dumont (13-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC), extending her win streak to five. Dumont fell just short of a four-year unbeaten run, having won her previous six outings before taking her first loss since May 7, 2022. In the lightweight division, Rafa Garcia of Mexico halted Alexander Hernandez’s four-fight winning streak, earning a unanimous decision 29-28, 29-28, 30-27. Garcia (19-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) has won three in a row, keeping the fight on the feet, taking Hernandez’s best punches while giving back his own at a much higher rate. Hernandez (18-9 MMA, 10-8 UFC) had not lost since April 6, 2024. Bantamweight Davey Grant of England earned a unanimous decision against UFC debutant Adrian Luna Martinetti, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28, in an entertaining all-around affair. Grant (18-8 MMA, 9-7 UFC) has won five of his last seven fights, while Luna Martinetti (17-2 MMA), who hails from Ecuador, had not lost since Sept. 20, 2017. At bantamweight, Brazil’s Raoni Barcelos squeaked out a split-decision win against Montel Jackson, taking two of the three judges’ scorecards, 29-28, 28-29, 29-28. Barcelos (22-5 MMA, 11-4 UFC) extended his winning streak to five, da...
Aljamain Sterling eyes featherweight title shot with statement win at ...
Aljamain Sterling isn't just fighting for another win he's fighting for legacy. The former bantamweight champion returns Saturday in the main event of UFC ...
Yes, that's right, he said it! Aljamain Sterling calls his shot at the gold ...
4 hours ago ... Yes, that's right, he said it! Aljamain Sterling calls his shot at the gold at #UFCVegas116. #UFC #UFCIndia.
