Sean O'Malley (left) won the bantamweight title at UFC 292. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
Former bantamweight champion (up to 61,2 kg), Aljamain Sterling, didn't hold back in his criticism of the current titleholder, Sean O'Malley. In an interview with 'MMA Junkie', the 'Funk Master' said he was aware of the number of packages sold for UFC 292 , the event where they faced each other, stated that the quantity was disappointing, and criticized 'Sugar's' star status.
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“I got the pay-per-view numbers (for UFC 292 ) and I was like, ‘Are these the numbers the guy was trying to say he’s the big star of pay-per-view?’ I was like, ‘Oh my God.’ When I saw the numbers, I literally said, ‘If I had any idea that the numbers would have been like this, if I could have predicted that this is what it would have been, I would have waited and taken my vacation then,’” Sterling lamented.
Aljamain admitted that he would not have liked to have fought O’Malley in August, but that he ended up accepting, imagining that the event would sell a high number of pay-per-view packages and that this would give a good boost to his purse.
“I rolled the dice. I trusted that the bag was going to be something big, bigger than all the others. It was not. That being said, it is what it is. I'm still happy I made some extra money. I had a very good year. I can't complain about that. The life is good. I can take care of myself. I can take care of my family”, concluded the ‘Funk Master’.
Sterling and O'Malley faced off in the main event of UFC 292 , held last August. In the second round, 'Sugar' surprised everyone by knocking out the then-champion, winning the bantamweight title.
For his next fight, Aljamain decided to abandon the rigorous weight cut and move up to the featherweight division (up to 65,7kg). In his debut in the new division, the 'Funk Master' will face the experienced Calvin Kattar , number seven in the ranking.
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