Aljamain Sterling was impressed with Alexander Volkanovski’s newest title protection at UFC 290 this previous weekend (July 8, 2023).
The UFC Featherweight champion, Volkanovski’s, third spherical technical knockout of Yair Rodriguez was the fifth time he’s efficiently fended off a challenger. Earlier than dealing with Rodriguez, Volkanovski made a short trek as much as Light-weight to say Light-weight gold. Sadly for “The Nice,” the 155-pound titlist, Islam Makhachev, turned him away through unanimous resolution (watch highlights).
Volkanovski nonetheless hopes to get a second crack at Makhachev however the timeline for when which may be an possibility is unsure. At Featherweight, Ilia Topuria has risen to rivalry and would be the seemingly subsequent challenger. Nonetheless, ought to Sterling get by Sean O’Malley in his upcoming Bantamweight title protection at UFC 292 on Aug. 19, 2023, “Funkmaster” hopes to problem the Australian legend.
“I’d like to get that problem earlier than he would dangle it up and be all stated and executed,” Sterling stated on his YouTube channel. “I missed the chance to combat Jose Aldo. I’ve been attempting to combat a few of these guys who’re thought of the best or the most important names. Petr Yan, Cory Sandhagen, T.J. Dillashaw, Henry Cejudo, now combating Sean, who’s gonna be form of like my Conor McGregor second. Then to have a chance to combat Volkanovski could be like an actual legacy-defining second for my profession. I’d even say for him, too.”
Sterling, 33, final fought in Could 2023, incomes his third consecutive title protection by defeating Cejudo through a cut up resolution. Identified for his excessive combat IQ and phenomenal Olympic-level wrestling background, Cejudo didn’t make it straightforward for Sterling regardless of returning after a three-year retirement.
In a possible conflict with the Featherweight champion, Sterling sees similarities to Cejudo that he’d be confronted with.
“I believe the factor that makes the combat between myself and Volk attention-grabbing is — individuals can say, ‘Oh, he’s gonna crush you in a single,’ no matter,” Sterling stated. “These guys hold saying this. Not the followers, the precise different individuals who simply have one thing to at all times harp on about. I believe the factor we each carry to the desk is the combat IQ and having the ability to make these changes. I believe that’s for me the problem similar to it was for Henry.
“The combat was shut though in my head I’m like, ‘Dude, I’m simply up 4 rounds going into this fifth,’” he continued. “I believe what makes it attention-grabbing is what he brings to the desk when it comes to the changes he could make. When he made that mid-fight adjustment towards Yair Rodriguez within the third spherical, it was like after that headbutt sequence, I believe Yair ought to have taken somewhat bit longer of time [to recover].”
