Aljamain Sterling isn’t wasting any time making waves in his new weight class. Following his move to the featherweight division, he’s already eyeing a shot at former champion Alexander Volkanovski.
Fresh off a commanding unanimous decision victory over Calvin Kattar at UFC 300, the ‘Funk Master’ is ready to take on the top contenders in his new division. He showcased his skills and cemented his place among the elite featherweights, expressing confidence in his matchup against ‘Volk’.
Aljamain Sterling discusses being offered a fight against Alexander Volkanovski
In a video shared on his YouTube channel via Championship Rounds, the former UFC bantamweight champion revealed that his bout with Sean O’Malley had significant implications for the featherweight title.
Sterling believed that had he defeated ‘Sugar’, UFC President Dana White would have granted him a shot at Volkanovski.
Despite acknowledging that the version of himself in that fight wasn’t his best, Sterling maintained his belief in his ability to go toe-to-toe with the former champion.
Aljamain Sterling reveals that Dana White told him if he beat Sean O’Malley, he could move up to 145 to challenge Alexander Volkanovski for the title.
He also believes that he was/is skilled enough to compete with Volk:
“I think I still am skilled enough to compete with a guy… pic.twitter.com/9R1cID6IVs
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) April 21, 2024
He emphasized his size, strength, and skill set as factors that could make the bout competitive.
Reflecting on Sterling’s featherweight debut, it’s no surprise that he’s quickly made an impact in the division. Following his victory over Kattar, he entered the featherweight rankings at No. 8, marking a promising start in his new weight class.
Now positioned among the top contenders at 145 pounds, Sterling sets the stage for potential matchups against formidable opponents such as Josh Emmett, Arnold Allen, and Movsar Evloev. With his skills and determination, Sterling is poised to make a significant impact in the featherweight division.
