Aljamain Sterling knows the deal. His win over Calvin Kattar at UFC 300? Yeah, it’s not the golden ticket to a title shot at 145 pounds. Not by a long shot.
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“The Funkmaster” took control with takedowns and dominated the scorecards in his featherweight debut. But let’s be real—it wasn’t the kind of performance that makes you go, “Wow!” Especially on a night that was pretty much an action-packed blockbuster. After losing his bantamweight crown to Sean O’Malley at UFC 292, Sterling decided to move up. He left behind a legacy of three successful title defenses.
“Everyone’s telling me to cheer up,” Sterling spilled in a backstage chat with the UFC. “But honestly? I’m kinda bummed about how it all went down.” He’s tough on himself, always wondering if he’s really got what it takes to be a champ.
First time fighting at 145 pounds, and boy, was he nervous. Facing a seasoned warrior like Kattar? Scary stuff. Sterling just wanted to give it his all. Luckily, it was enough to secure the win.
Sterling managed to keep Kattar’s boxing at bay, a feat in itself. According to UFCStats.com, Kattar only landed eight significant strikes the whole fight. Still, Sterling gave props to Kattar’s defensive game.
“It felt one-sided, but Kattar knew how to stall,” Sterling observed. “Made me think—how much can I really do against that?” It’s all about balancing risk and maintaining control, a tricky dance for sure.
Sterling was surprised by Kattar’s ground defense. He expected to unleash some serious ground-and-pound, but Kattar was all about that hand-tying defense.
Facing Kattar, Sterling couldn’t help but notice the size difference. “Damn, this dude’s big. Not your average bantamweight,” he thought. The jump to featherweight was a real eye-opener for him, but he felt he held his own in strength and technique.
Beating Kattar has put Sterling on the map at 145 pounds. But where does he go from here? “Top 8, maybe?” he muses. There are guys he believes he can beat, but matchups are key. Who’s next? That’s the big question.
“I think I’m right in that bubble,” Sterling tweeted, feeling confident about his place in the featherweight division. His win over Kattar? It’s a loud statement in the quest for contention.
So, what’s next for “The Funkmaster”? Time will tell, but one thing’s for sure—he’s a fighter to watch in the featherweight division.