aljamain sterling He was once the UFC bantamweight title holder. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @funkmastermma
About to face one of the biggest challenges of his career, aljamain sterling doesn't seem happy with the amount of his salary. The former Ultimate bantamweight champion (up to 61,2 kg) will face Brian ortega next Saturday (23), in the co-main fight of the UFC Shanghai, valid for the featherweight division (up to 65,7 kg). According to him, the effort and investment made to prepare for the five-round fight are not compatible with the payment, which would be the same if the duel were scheduled to last only 15 minutes.
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Sterling addressed the issue in an interview with the website 'MMA Fighting' this Wednesday (20). According to the fighter, he has been asking for an increase in the amount for a considerable time.
“I don't know why it's five rounds. I think it's kind of stupid. Like, what are we going to gain from this? We're not going to win a trophy at the end, so why are we fighting five rounds? It's 10 extra minutes of training, 10 extra minutes of fighting. I honestly don't know. I don't want five rounds. Who wants to fight more for the same salary they're getting? It doesn't make sense. In the contract (it said five rounds), and I was like, 'What for?' I thought, potentially, we could get moved to the main event, and that didn't happen, so here we are. I'm like, 'Hey, Mr. Manager, can we get a little extra money for this?' I've been asking for weeks.
If there was still any confusion. The fight between Brian ortega and aljamain sterling in Shanghai is scheduled for 5 rounds in the featherweight division. #UFCShanghai pic.twitter.com/mZLOfxEfdR
— Marcel Dorff (@BigMarcel24) August 19, 2025
Sterling is coming off a loss at UFC 310
Speaking about the importance of the duel, the former champion highlighted that the match could be a turning point for both men. At 36 years old, Sterling is coming off a loss to Movsar Evloev in December of last year. Ortega was already dominated by Diego lopes No. UFC 306, in the Sphere.
"This is a huge fight, man. I think it's decisive for both of us, considering our ages, what we've accomplished, and where we've both been in our divisions. I don't want to say it's a decisive fight for me, but I'm not interested in fighting prospects just for the money. Maybe I'll consider it at some point, but I'm not in that mindset right now. It doesn't make me wake up in the morning and make me want to train to fight these 22-, 23-year-olds who don't have a name. They're trying to make a name for themselves on me, they're trying to make a name for themselves on Ortega," he concluded.
aljamain sterling after victory in UFC 288. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
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