Petr Yan’s American Top Team coach Marcos DaMatta is a little puzzled by Aljamain Sterling’s recollection of what also won UFC 259.
Sterling won Yan’s UFC bantamweight title last Saturday after Yan was disqualified for hitting an illegal knee to the head in the fourth round of his fight. Disqualification was decided after Sterling told the referee and the doctor on the side of the cage that he could not continue.
Sterling became the first fighter in UFC history to win a title through DQ. He has been widely criticized online by fans and fighters who claim that Sterling was faking the knee effect.
Sterling responded to critics on his own podcast, saying he didn’t want to win the way he did and also shared a few more details about his mood during the incident.
“I remember asking, ‘How much time do I have?’ Because I wanted to continue, ”said Sterling. “Right now, I’m thinking a lot of things in my head: Dana (White) is not going to give me another chance for the title, the fight is going to be without dispute, Dana is going to say, ‘He went to lose that fight in the fourth round, so for should we use it again? We already know the direction the fight was taking, so let’s move on. ‘So I, I will never have the opportunity again. I will have to win three or four more fights to return to this position and win the world title. “
Coach DaMatta questions Sterling’s recollection of the illegal knee, as he finds it hard to believe that a fighter who was injured by the shot could think of all the things Sterling mentioned.
“Wait a second. If you have a concussion, if you are not able to continue to fight, are you really thinking about all of this in the cage?” Said DaMatta. “I mean, it confused me. I don’t know if Aljo was thinking. all of this inside the cage when I was still down or thinking about it now. Once again, I respect Aljo and his coaches. I went to his corner and apologized because I know Petr was wrong and I’m not denying it. the truth? Did you really think all of that inside the cage or after? I don’t know. It all comes down to let’s schedule the rematch soon. ”
DaMatta wouldn’t say one way or the other if Sterling was faking the knee and said that Sterling is the only one who will know. The ATT coach wants the rematch to be scheduled as soon as possible and finds it ridiculous that Sterling has suggested a fight with former retired champion Henry Cejudo on Twitter.
“I saw Cejudo’s move. This is crazy, ”said DaMatta. “The fight to be done now is the rematch. Cejudo, Sandhagen and everyone else have to wait. The right fight now is the rematch, and I hope it will be in May.
“I hope the UFC will schedule this fight quickly. Even Aljo said he doesn’t want to be a champion like that. Nobody wants it. Petr really acknowledged the mistake. He apologized. He knows he made a mistake. He apologized to Aljo and his coach and everyone, but the truth is that we want the rematch as soon as possible.
“Dana said that Aljo was released to go. Aljo said he wants the rematch. Petr said he wants a rematch, so I don’t know if there will be a draw, I hope not. Perhaps May or June at the latest. I believe that May will be a perfect schedule. “