Aljamain Sterling has a UFC bantamweight title unification bout with Petr Yan to deal with, but the champion sees Jose Aldo creeping toward the shot, as well.
If that fight happens, it would be a definitive No. 1 contender match. The winner would be perfectly positioned to fight the winner of Sterling (20-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) vs. Yan (16-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC). The reigning champ was cageside to see Aldo compete from up close, and he couldn’t leave anything but impressed.
“I thought it was a phenomenal performance,” Sterling said during the UFC on ESPN 31 post-fight show. “Compared to what he did against Petr Yan, this was night and day. I think he’s still getting better, still proving that he’s one of the top dogs in this division, and I’m super excited because this division is really hot right now.”
“I think you’ve just got to stay in his face the whole time; that’s my personal opinion,” Sterling said. “When he started taking Rob Font down, he was a fish out on land, so to speak. … He’s a black belt. He’s a legend. He’s done what he’s done in the history books for a reason, but I do believe I have the tools to beat every one of these guys in the bantamweight division.”
“We’ve got a lot of unsettled business,” Sterling said. “I can’t wait to just shut that guy up for good.”
