“Funkmaster” is fired up — again.
Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling made a statement in his RAF 06 debut, dominating fellow ex-champion Benson Henderson in the evening’s featured bout. Sterling secured a third-period pin inside Mullett Arena at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, reminding everyone that even outside the Octagon, his grappling remains elite (watch highlights).
The win marked Sterling’s first competition since defeating Brian Ortega at UFC Shanghai last year. While the performance at RAF 06 was solid, it’s safe to say that Sterling was fired up and didn’t mince words when discussing what he believes should be next.
“I’ve been doing this for a long time, been with the company since 2014. I’ve been calling my shot, I defended my belt the most in the Bantamweight division, tied with a couple of other greats like Merab Dvalishvili. Give me my f—king shot,” Sterling said. “I deserve a shot at the title. OG vs. OG. I’m smarter than all these dumb motherf—kers out there. Excuse my French, but Diego Lopes gets a f—king rematch, and he goes out there and fights worse. After actually doing decent in the first fight. Like, what are we even talking about?”
Sterling has long leaned into the “smart fighter” identity. He knows he’s not a one-punch knockout artist — and he’s fine with that.
“Yeah, I don’t have knockout power. That’s never been my game. I win with my brain. I’m smarter than a lot of these guys out there. Like I said, I’m an OG of the game. Give me my f—king title shot. I’ll put on a good show for the fans. I’ve been working on my striking, as people saw in the Brian Ortega fight. Give me my f—king shot. I’ve earned this. I’ve been around for a long time.”
The frustration stems from what Sterling perceives as selective matchmaking. He claims the UFC routinely asks who he wants — only to go in the opposite direction. He previously volunteered to face Lerone Murphy in London, a high-risk fight in hostile territory, but the bout never materialized.
“I don’t know what else I’ve got to do,” Sterling said. “If you want to give me Yair Rodriguez, I’ll fight him. If you want to give me Jean Silva, I’ll fight him. If you want to give me Youssef Zalal, I’ll fight him. I’ve never turned down anybody. These guys have asked me for opponents, who I want to fight, and then they give me somebody the complete opposite because they want to see me lose. That’s my perspective.”
This isn’t new territory for Sterling. He’s previously suggested the promotion positioned T.J. Dillashaw as his “dethroner,” and of course, Sean O’Malley ultimately took his title at UFC 292.
Still, Sterling remains convinced history will repeat itself if given the opportunity.
“What does that tell me? Oh, maybe I’m not the guy for the spot, but I keep proving them wrong. Give me a f—king title shot, and I’m going to prove them wrong again.”
Unfortunately for Sterling, a forgettable win over Ortega, who was in a 30-minute coma before they fought, isn’t going to get him a shot. Maybe a win over a Brazilian madman will do the trick.
