Aljamain Sterling is the arguable GOAT of the UFC’s bantamweight division. Even though hated by the fans, Sterling has one of the best resumes in the bantamweight division. However, casual fans know him as the fighter Sean O’Malley defeated to become the champion. Though Sterling and Sterling have reciprocated respect, the latter recently threw some shade at the former.
Sterling was a recent guest on the OverDogs podcast, co-hosted by “Platinum” Mike Perry. Ryan Garcia‘s recent Ostarine doping violation was the talk of the town, and O’Malley had a past violation due to the same substance for which he received suspension from the athletic commission. O’Malley denied any wrongdoing, but Sterling didn’t buy it.
I think he popped twice for it like years ago but then everyone says the same thing, ‘Oh, it’s the over-the-counter supplement thing,’ and I feel like we know which third-party tested or not and we know what things are sketchy and what things you should and shouldn’t take. And I think it’s easy to take some of these stuff and then knowingly or unknowingly…and then you could blame it on, I don’t know if it was just some over-the-counter thing.
Aljamain Sterling via OverDogs podcast
Sterling revealed that the UFC provides third-party tested supplements for its fighters. Moreover, Sterling stated one of O’Malley’s training partners also tested positive for the substance. The ‘Funk Master’ also said the substance won’t be in any recreational drug. Hence, he doubts O’Malley’s innocence.
Sterling is now a featherweight after making his debut in the division against Calvin Kattar at UFC 300. The ex-bantamweight champion has featherweight title aspirations, and so does “Suga” Sean O’Malley. As such, a rematch between the two could potentially happen, though the possibility is slim.
Aljamain Sterling speaks on how he would fight Sean O’Malley in a rematch
Aljamain Sterling was stylistically a bad matchup for Sean O’Malley. However, O’Malley upset the odds and scored a TKO victory over Sterling. Though Marc Goddard‘s stoppage of the fight received criticism, especially from Merab Dvalishvili, O’Malley’s counter right straight was a thing of beauty.
Aljamain Sterling lost to Sean O’Malley at UFC 292 (Image via: IMAGO, Instagram)Even though Sterling had a claim for a rematch, the UFC didn’t allow it, and he moved to featherweight. A rematch can happen since O’Malley and Sterling have title aspirations at featherweight. Sterling recently revealed how he would fight O’Malley in a potential rematch on the OverDogs podcast.
I would fight him [Sean O’Malley] the same way I did in the first round [at UFC 292], fight him the same way Pedro Munoz did [at UFC 276]. I always tell guys, if you fight a guy who moves a lot, stylistically, it’s hard to chase a guy who has really good footwork, good lateral movement. You’ve got to let him come to you and set your ground. And once you do that, then you have to start forcing them to now, instead of countering, now they have to be the ones to start the offense. And you can sit there and fake them out a bunch, get them to be uncomfortable, unsure what they’re going to do, chop the legs down.
Aljamain Sterling via OverDogs podcast
Ilia Topuria is the current UFC featherweight champion. With his all-around skills, the Georgian is a stylistic nightmare for O’Malley and Sterling. As such, there is less likelihood of O’Malley fighting Sterling for the featherweight title.
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