Aljamain Sterling does not regret the way things went from beginning to end.
UFC 259 happened on Saturday, when the now champion Sterling (20-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) challenged then champion Petr Yan for the UFC featherweight belt. Despite the unusual (and controversial, in the eyes of some) disqualification in Round 4 that earned him the title, Sterling has no problems with the way he behaved during the fight or in the aftermath.
Adjustments inside the cage can be made, especially regarding your diet, Sterling told MMA Junkie on Tuesday. He admitted that he tired a little unexpectedly as the fight progressed, apparently much more than Yan. And while he respects former 135-pound champion Henry Cejudo’s opinion that he hasn’t controlled himself, Sterling doesn’t think that’s the problem.
“If (Cejudo) really saw my training, he would know and everyone would know, I can really maintain that pace for five rounds,” said Sterling. “It bothers me that I got tired so quickly in the middle of the second. I don’t know what I’m blaming, but I think there are some things that I did differently. My water load for one.
“The strength and conditioning were a little bit different. But I don’t think that was it. I had a great production in my sparring sessions with counting hits and my drop in wrestling and spending to get submissions, takedowns and even against the guys who are hard to take down who are black jiu-jitsu belts, guys from Dagestan who fight in Dagestan and have good wrestling bases. (I was still) able to take them down, or they take me down and me being able to get back up. “
Diet was also an important issue for Sterling. It is tradition that he does not eat on the day of the fight. However, his body acted a little differently at UFC 259, in part, he believes because there was a long time between breakfast and the fight against Yan (15-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC).
“I think it may be because I felt my energy going to the back and when we were getting on the bus, I didn’t feel well,” said Sterling. “I felt weak. I felt tired and as if something was wrong. If I had a performance like that in a compromised gas tank, I think the future is bright. I just need to make a small adjustment. “
Although Sterling understands the technical criticisms of his performance in the cage, when it comes to criticizing the consequences, for him, the feedback is not valid.
Photos and videos posted by friends on social media led to Sterling’s conviction, which he said he did not understand. Sterling’s multiple angles of toast with friends and family and his championship belt after the fight pissed off some fans and members of the media – and they let Sterling know that.
“I didn’t post a single picture of me celebrating as if I had won anything,” said Sterling. “I won by default. I don’t feel like a champion. I didn’t post anything for that specific reason. Usually, after each fight, I post something. I publish something in celebration of what happened. I made a post of being with my fiancee. Not that I have the belt because people put it on my shoulder, like, ‘You deserve it. No, you deserve it. Place. Place. ‘ I did not want this. They flew over here. They paid their money. They came to the house. They supported me. If they want to do that, ok, I understand. I can’t tell them to put their phones away and not post anything if they want to. “
Some critics also accused him of the toast itself. Should someone who suffered a serious head injury hours earlier drink alcohol? In fact, it was not so, according to Sterling.
“I didn’t drink,” said Sterling. “I took a sip of champagne. I made a toast and basically said, ‘Sorry, I disappointed everyone. I know that you are still proud of me and I will validate the belt when I do this rematch. I hope that next time I feel much better. I felt bad. I’m sorry and I know that you know that my training is much more intense than my fight and we will take the next one. I thank you all for coming. ‘I took a sip, I didn’t drink the rest of the night. A few hours later, I threw up. This is my celebration for everyone who says I was out there, ra-ra-ing. “
When he reflects on the night that included his performance to win the title, Sterling said he was comfortable with how it all went. That said, the way things went, he doesn’t feel like the rightful champion. Until the rematch arrives, he will keep that in mind and use that as a motivation for what he hopes will be a performance that will validate the championship for the second time.
“In terms of my mind and how things went, I don’t feel like the champion,” said Sterling. “This is the motivation right there, to show the world that I can maintain this pace for 25 minutes. … I will always try to find a way when there is time on that watch. I think the fans would definitely recognize (recognize) or maybe recognize, maybe not. Maybe they appreciate it in terms of my tenacity and how I get to the octagon. I’m thinking of leaving the gate in exactly the same way, so I hope he is ready for it. He better be ready for this. “
To hear the full interview with Sterling, check out the video below.