“If they offer me a rematch in December, I would have to respectfully decline,” MMAJunkie quoted the former UFC champion as saying. “But if they wanted to do it in January or February, I would instantly agree.”
“If I don’t get the rematch, the next guy in line has to be Merab Dvalishvili. He’s the number one contender. No one else has more reason to have a title fight than him. It will be interesting to see what the UFC will do, but it’s the most logical fight.”
Two weeks ago at UFC 292 in Boston, Aljamain Sterling lost by second-round technical knockout to Sean O’Malley, who said after the fight that he wants to make the first defense of his title this December against division number six Marlon Vera.
Recall that three years ago, the Ecuadorian fighter inflicted on the American the only defeat of his career, finishing him by technical knockout in the first round. The result of the fight was determined by a leg injury, which O’Malley considers accidental, while Vera claims to have injured his opponent with a lowkick.