Aljamain Sterling Makes Successful Featherweight Debut at UFC 300
Kosport Magazine – Aljamain Sterling chose one heck of a day to become a UFC featherweight. After a decorated nine-year run as one of the best bantamweights in the UFC, Sterling made his 145-pound debut at UFC 300, dominating Calvin Kattar for a pillar-to-post decision win. This was a highly anticipated move for Sterling, who hoped a successful night would propel him to the front of the line for title contention in his new division.
However, former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway had other plans. Holloway went out and posted the highlight of the year with his spectacular last-second knockout of Justin Gaethje to capture the promotion’s ceremonial BMF title. This impressive performance solidified Holloway as a top contender in both the featherweight and lightweight divisions.
Sterling couldn’t help but give credit where credit is due. ”I was like, ‘Justin, go the other way! Justin, don’t go to the center! Whatever you do, don’t go to the center,'” Sterling said with a laugh on The MMA Hour. “No, but man, that was insane. I thought Max was winning the fight, and for him to even say, ‘Eff it. UFC 300. Let’s go,’ and to do that — that’s a lot to risk with a guy who hits as hard as Gaethje, and for him to get the better of that exchange was very unexpected.”
But Sterling is not one to back down from a challenge. With a title shot now unlikely, the 34-year-old fighter instead pivoted to a potential matchup against Brian Ortega in his post-fight dialogues. He also entertained the idea of a grappler vs. grappler matchup against Movsar Evloev.
Meanwhile, Holloway has been vocal about his desire to fight Ilia Topuria. The former featherweight champion has repeatedly called for a matchup with Topuria and even traded shots with him on social media. This potential fight has caught the attention of Sterling, who finds it deeply intriguing.
“I think it’s a very compelling fight,” Sterling said. “I think Max’s footwork is what makes him a tricky opponent. Styles make fights. Max has got a hell of a chin. Ilia can crack. But the thing is, Ilia just walks you down, right? And this is just my assessment. He walks you down until he gets you close enough to the cage, and then he lets go with that combination and he puts guys out. It’s whether or not he could do that to Max, and will Max sit there and try to exchange with him against the cage where Ilia does his best work — and I think that’s the interesting dynamic of that fight, and to kind of see which way he’s going to go.”
In the end, Sterling believes that Topuria’s elite-level grappling could be the difference in the fight. But he also acknowledges that Holloway’s footwork and chin make him a formidable opponent. It’s a tough call for Sterling, but one thing is for sure – this potential matchup between Holloway and Topuria is one that fans won’t want to miss.
