This weekend, Aljamain Sterling will defend his UFC bantamweight title against Petr Yan in the co-main event of UFC 273. It’s a fight over a year in the making, after the two first met at UFC 259, where Sterling won the title via disqualification when Yan delivered an illegal knee that Sterling was unable to continue after. Even though Sterling admitted Yan won the fight before Yan’s illegal knee, “The Funk Master”, who is a former fighter of Yan, says that Yan made a mistake prior to that.
“I think I messed up the day of the fight,” Sterling said on his YouTube channel. “I had a beautiful morning shake up, 20 minutes strong, hard pace. I felt like my lungs would never get tired, my arms, my muscles, everything felt phenomenal. Then, just not eating the way I normally do right after, not putting the fuel back into my body to actually go a 25 minutes pace for what I put out. The expenditure of energy, it was just way too much for what I put back into my body after having my morning shake out. Anyone who was there that day, they saw, it looked like I was possessed by a demon that morning, so to go from that to what I did that night, was to me, disgraceful, in the sense of that’s not even a glimpse of what I’m capable of. Especially for how hard I worked, it was very disheartening for myself, because I know how much I put into it and I know that’s not even a fraction of what I can do.”
Sterling went on to say that the difference in preparation caused by COVID-19 and the UFC’s safety policies played a major role in why things went sideways during his fight day preparation, something he says won’t be a factor this time.
” It won’t happen again”, Sterling stated. Sterling said that COVID had really disrupted the normal way people do things. He also stated, “It won’t happen again.” We were able to report at a certain time as long as we reported back before that time to take our COVID test, we were good, so I got to do everything the same. Leave, go get food, eat with everybody, all that good stuff. The UFC PI gave me the lunch menu, so I ate only the breakfast. I didn’t eat the lunch and I didn’t eat the dinner, not realizing that I was fighting at 8:30 compared to 4 o’clock, and sometimes even earlier than that, when I normally eat a lot differently. It all comes down to nutrition and numbers at the end. It all comes down to the numbers, nutrition.
” It felt as though I was still losing weight when I entered the cage. I was like, ‘This sucks. It feels like I’m labored right now and I’m trying to get through a weight cut to cut the last few pounds and make weight so I can step on the scale and eat.’ That’s exactly the best way I can describe how I felt that day.”
Over the past year, Sterling has received a tremendous amount of hate from fans for the manner in which he won the title, and from Yan who has repeatedly mocked him as a “fake champion” and “actor.” But with UFC 273 now just a few days away, Sterling has learned from his mistakes and is ready to finally settle his feud with Yan.
“At the end of the day, I take full responsibility for what happened to me because it’s myself ultimately,” Sterling said. “But feeling that type of difference from any other day when you feel like you’re on top of the world and ready to show out, it’s very, very frustrating. It’s been a long year and I can’t wait to get back out there and right the wrong.”
UFC 273 takes place this Saturday at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, FL.
TOP STORIES
Fire. UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar had his house set on fire.
Contender. Daniel Cormier praises Khamzat Chimaev: ‘I think he’s the scariest contender we have seen for a while’.
Boxing. Francis Ngannou thinks Tyson Fury will fight — either in a boxing ring, or ‘phone booth — but not in MMA. ‘He would be killed.
Heavyweight. Jon Jones says no fight offer yet for UFC heavyweight debut, but plans to ‘be in peak condition come June or July’.
Withdrawal. Kelvin Gastelum releases statement on UFC 273 withdrawal: ‘I am compromised’.
VIDEO STEW
UFC 273 Countdown.
The first ever Bellator card, in full.
Israel Adesanya breaks down UFC 273.
Khamzat Chimaev.
Paddy Pimblett celebrating his win.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Conor McGregor.
Why wasn’t I at Wrestlemania? They all fear me, that’s why.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) April 4, 2022
I’m gonna break a head with these. Add it to the list of heads. pic.twitter.com/w3q3sm9a7s
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) April 4, 2022
Aljamain Sterling.
Almost go time! I am packing all of my necessities! #UFC273 pic.twitter.com/zj4ZwVhYL4
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) April 3, 2022
Going over some Fight IQ with the team….. ya know so that they never lose their belt.
The best seller, MMA Rule Book For Dummies, by yours truly is available worldwide. You can even find it in Russia or Thailand. #justsaying
Tag a friend or a who needs this book! pic.twitter.com/o3Y0tuvw4s— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) April 3, 2022
Henry Cejudo.
The Korean Zombie will awaken on April 9th #andnew https://t.co/WJ3LS2f24h
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) April 3, 2022
Demetrious John is a hero.
home boy looking like a straight ass gangster sabertooth https://t.co/GR9GC6dqyL
— Demetrious Johnson (@MightyMouse) April 3, 2022
Healthy.
— Nathaniel Wood (@TheProspectMMA) April 3, 2022
Now this is a damn fight.
We both want it, and we are both available! @seanshelby just send us the date and location @gamer_mma is the only one who raised his hand. Let’s do it
— Arman Tsarukyan UFC (@ArmanUfc) April 3, 2022
I want to fight the best in the world, you are one of them. Let’s go https://t.co/dbll5UoVRr
— Mateusz Gamrot (@gamer_mma) April 3, 2022
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Devin Clark (12-6) vs. William Knight (11-3); UFC Vegas 51, April 16.
Andre Fili (21-8) vs. Joanderson Brito (12-3-1); UFC Vegas 53, April 30.
Jan Blachowicz (28-9) vs. Aleksandar Rakic (14-2); UFC Fight Night, May 14.
Katlyn Chookagian (17-4) vs. Amanda Ribas (11-2); UFC Fight Night, May 14.
Allan Nascimento (18-6) vs. Jake Hadley (8-0); UFC Fight Night, May 14.
Phil Hawes (11-3) vs. Deron Winn (7-2); UFC Fight Night, June 18.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Thank you for reading!
EXIT POLL
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