MMA Fighting - Aljamain Sterling Recaps Quick Finish At UFC 250, Believes He's Top 135er

Episode Date: June 11, 2020

Aljamain Sterling joined MMA Fighting's Damon Martin to recap his first-round submission win over Cory Sandhagen at UFC 250, and having his sights set on the UFC bantamweight title.  Subscribe: http://goo.gl/dYpsgH Check out our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/u8VvLi Visit our playlists: http://goo.gl/eFhsvM Like MMAF on Facebook: http://goo.gl/uhdg7Z Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David Martin, M.MA fighting here with the guy I called the biggest winner at UFC 250 this past week, and he should have walked with the title. We'll leave that for part of the conversation we're about to have. Welcome back. Al Jamin Sterling, Aljo, welcome back, and thank you for the time, man, and congratulations on an amazing victory. Thank you, thanks for having me. I'm super pumped up, man, and just excited for everything that's coming. You know, I got to be honest, Corey Sanhagen is a very tough guy, very good fighter,

And I looked at that fight and said, man, this is a toss-up. This is a good fight. That's why I said it was probably the fight for the vacant title. It was a very tough fight. It didn't play out as a very tough fight, Aljo. It did not play out that way at all. No, you know, you know what, man, I think Corey said it himself. You know, we're all world-class, and then there's a notch above that.

You know, so when it comes to the ground game, I think I fit that mold of what he was talking about. I don't think he realized what he was getting himself into. And tough competitor, he's super young, and he's got a bright future ahead of him. Yeah. Can you give me an idea? Like, was the game plan going in to take them down and grapple with him right away? Or did you just see that opening and you took it? You know what, man?

I thought about it a bunch, and I wasn't sure how the fight would go. And that was what I thought would be my path of least resistance. I went for it, kept the pressure on. I just had to make sure I kept my awareness. He was a taller, a lankier fighter, you know, dangerous with the knees and the moiety clench, and I just didn't want to run into anything. So that was my main concern,

and, you know, I knew if I could get them down one time, that would be a good night for myself. Yeah, now I know you're a fan of social media. How many human Jansport tweets did you see after the fight? Oh, a shit time. People were starting to realize, again that, you know, I'm primarily a grappler. Striking is fun, but at the end of the day, man,

grappling is what I'm a better expert at. I can do it all, but if, you know, if it goes down to my world, I think people are starting to realize, like, that's where I'm the most dangerous. Yeah, absolutely. You, we knew going into the fight that this was a big moment for you because where Corey was ranked, where you were ranked, where the Bantamway Division is at right now,

could you imagine making a better statement than the one you made on Saturday night by going out and choking out a guy who, you know, as legit as they come, and this guy has wins over guys like John Linearger, Hoffield, Sunsale, he is a legit bantamweight, and you went out and choked him out inside the first round. Yeah, for sure. I didn't think it was going to go that way. I thought it was been a lot more deeply contested. I honestly thought it was going to be a three-round affair, and we had both ended up in the hospital again, kind of like my last fight a year ago against Pedro Munoz.

You know, I just put my guys in this pedestal where they're my biggest demons and my biggest enemies and I got to make sure I could conquer that. So I always make sure I train to the best of my abilities and leave those stones and turned. I truly did think this fight was going to be a more toughly contested fight, but I think it goes to show that there are levels to this grappling game of this business. and I'm just glad I walk through it with flying colors, you know. It's not every day you get to walk out of a fight like that, of that high of the caliber with such high stakes in a fight.

Yeah, absolutely. Nothing was ideal about this fight for you, Aljo. I mean, you had, at the beginning, you had the coronavirus outbreak in New York, which, of course, is one of the hotbeds where it was the worst. So you couldn't really train, you couldn't get to your gym. Then, of course, you later revealed that your girlfriend ended up coming down with the coronavirus, and you were taking care of her and kind of landed literally in your home. And then you had to kind of build a gym in your house.

You're working with just a few people, Marab and a few other guys. Nothing was ideal about this. And then you go out and have arguably the biggest win in your career. And how crazy is it when you think about everything you went through to get here and then to go out and have that kind of win? It's unreal. It's a surreal feeling. It still feels like a dream.

We watch the fight's probably seven, eight times. Times today and I think it was only 88 seconds, but it's something that we didn't think would happen like that. You know, Corey is a guy we tout and we put on a high pedestal in terms of his resume and what he's been able to accomplish as far. So to go out there and get a win like that, man, it puts you over the edge. It puts you over the moon. And, you know, you can't script anything better than that, especially with everything that was

happening. I think New York was definitely the worst place that was hit with this corner. team and to just have these guys who stuck by me and came down to train and gave me the best versions of themselves to help push me to to realize a dream. There's nothing better than that. You know, I love this team. I love this family and it's something that I can never replace. And these guys help me get me to where I am today. So it's just an exciting plan for the team, man. This year, this team is undefeated. And to have these guys fighting this weekend and and to have guys fighting the following week after that, it says a lot, you know.

So I'm just coming off to win, and I'm getting ready to help these guys get ready for battle for their fights as well. Yeah. How much does it mean to you to have guys like Marab and Ally of Quentin? Because I remember talking to Chris Wyman when he was still scheduled to fight in May, and he's like, listen, I'm not going to ask, you know, Ray Longo and Matt Serra to come out. You know, they got families, and this is a serious thing. And obviously, Ray's a little older, and he's like, I'm not going to put them at risk, you know, so they can corner me for a fight, you know, that kind of stuff.

How much does it mean to you that obviously Ray and Matt and those guys back in New York were all behind you, but then you were able to turn to guys like Marab and Ally Quentin to be in your corner and feel like you don't miss a step? I mean, that's huge. Yeah, well, you know what, man, we train with each other day in and day out. These are my main training partners. And we were calling it the Dogtown Training Crew, the Doctown Training Camp, and to have these guys with me, where, you know, everything, every day pretty much,

We were barking. That was the model, man. It's just like all the dogs of the gym just coming out, pushing each other to the next level, pushing each other to the next level, pushing each other to elevate themselves to that next platform to just get better every single day. And not having the coaches, you know,

obviously health concerns come first, you know, to get a win and then to have those guys who are definitely sick or definitely ill. It's something we were definitely concerned about. so we made sure we took precautions with that. And at the end of the day, these guys are training with day in and day out. So being with these guys were like, you know, nothing really changed, but just having these guys who are the most highest of levels in the gym pushing each other.

I think iron sharp is iron. And to have guys like this around you, you can't ask for a better situation. Yeah, absolutely, absolutely. Now, with that being said, I don't want to open old wounds, Aljo, but we talked numerous times leading into what was going to be. be this fight, then not this fight, and then eventually this fight again, with the timing and everything. But, you know, and listen, you've heard a million times, you don't need me to hear, you don't need to hear me say it again, but, you know, everyone, pretty much everyone believes that

you should have been fighting for the vacant bansomweight title, and did you go out and you take out a guy in Corey Sannhagen, who was a very legit guy? A lot of people thought he was, you know, going to be the future of this division, you take about 88 seconds. Do you harbor any ill feelings about that whole situation, or do you just kind of roll with the punches and say, you know, that performance tells people that I'm the best man to wait, even if I don't have a belt around my waist. Like, I'm the uncrowned champion right now. Yeah, you know what, man, I'm always a guy who looks at every situation

that it's last half full, and I can never complain about the situation that I'm in. You know, I try to put everything into perspective. I'm doing what I love to do. There's a lot of American citizens out there who do things and do jobs that they hate day in and day out. For me to do what I love to do with people that I like and enjoy being around who are chasing the same dreams, same passions, and to have that around with you day in and day out, I think it says a lot, you know, so to have that type of camaraderie and to go out and perform and everyone's chasing the same dream, same goal. I think you kind of forget about everything else.

Obviously, it would have been nice to have a band-of-way title on the line. I think Corey and I had the best resume for me to go out there and take out a guy who had a better resume. in Pied Yan in the way that I did. I think it says a lot about this division, how stacked it is, and it says a lot about my abilities as well, you know. So I think people are going to really be taking notice and paying attention to what I'm capable of

and the team is capable of. And from there it's just, you know, I think they're going to really be doing the homework and try to figure out a way that they can take us out. So I think together we're unbreakable, unshakable. And, you know, start along the man. along go all the way. This is a team. This is a dynasty and there's a small, tight-knit team.

And I think that says a lot about us. We're not like out there recruiting people and bringing people in. This is people who are just around from the same area who got the same passing, the same drive, and everybody we wholeheartedly believe in and we want to see everybody succeed. Yeah. Now, this is a fan-driven sport, Aljo. We know that. I mean, the fans do make a big difference, you know, when it comes to fights being made, you know, obviously the fights that are, you know, fighters getting opportunities, the more popular you are, sometimes trumps the wins you have, as we've seen a lot of times in sport. But you're going out and having the win like this, like, you're not getting, you don't have a

title around your waist. And obviously, we all believe you're going to get the winner of, you know, Peter Yan and Josie Aldo, but do you feel like in a way your win just kind of like has a shadow now hanging over that fight? Like, you don't have your title around your waist, but no matter who wins that fight, if Peter Young goes out there and knocks out Aldo in the first round, there's going to be that lingering question of, well, you've got to go through Algemein-Strailing. If Josie Advo pulls it off, well, you've got to go through Algebraan strolling,

is there some kind of, at least a little bit of benefit in that knowing that you're the guy. You mentioned the boogeyman word on Saturday now. You're now the boogeyman who's kind of hanging in the closet right there. Yeah, you know what? I feel like I kind of got that Tony Ferguson effect right now. I'm that guy hanging in the wings right now, and I think people are really starting to pay attention and take notice to my skills and the capabilities, man. I think you put me in there with anybody at 35, 45,

I get on your back, I take you down. It's going to be a long night, and it's a dangerous situation to be in. So I'm confident in my abilities and the training that I have. You know, there are black belts, and then there are black belts, and I'm a start a BJJ black belt. I think that's what a lot of people are starting to take notice. Like, dude, this guy is dangerous.

If he grabs your leg or gets a hold of you, it could be a short night, So you have to really be on your P's and Q's when it comes to stepping in the Oxidon with me. So, yeah, Pidion may fight Jose Aldo, and he may win the belt, or Jose Aldo may win the belt, but people are going to always look and see, like, well, you've got to beat this guy first. And it gives me a good comfort to know that people are behind me and realizing that my skills are dangerous. And I'm a real threat to this division. And in order to be considered the best, you have to take me out.

You know, so that lets me know, man, the work that I've been putting in for 10 years have all come to fruition. So I'm just super excited. This bain of weight is – this bainte division is the best has ever been. And I think people are realizing, like, this is probably the best division in the entire UFC roster right now. Of course, there are all the tough competitive rosters. But this one is a fun roster. You can get knocked out. You can get choked out.

and high-paced, high-cardio, and just the talent level, the skill level, was just personality, just oozing for days. So I think people are really starting to pay attention that we bring the whole package when it comes to what entertainment and what fans want to see. Yeah, I'll just let you call your shot right now, Aljo.

Are you the best bench win in the UFC? I'm going to say so. I'm going to say so until someone's going to prove it. Otherwise, I took up the number four guy in the world the way I did, and I don't think there's a lot of guys doing that to court of San Hagan. He said it himself. I saw him after the fight when we got back to the hotel,

and he said, dude, he called me an asshole, you know, obviously jokingly, but he was like, dude, you know, much credit to you. If, you know, go out there to get the belt for you to do what you did to me. He said, that's not easy to do. And, you know, he gave me a lot of respect. And obviously, he's a young guy. He's going to come back.

I've been that guy before losing to Malone and the Rise. Vicious K. K.O. came back. And I think it's all about your sense. self-belief in the journey, man. The work you put in, you get in what you put in. That's what I truly do believe in. And that's really it, you know, so if these guys, these guys want to doubt me once again, let Vegas doubt me once again,

make it a pick and fight. And I got a whole bunch of people who are making money. And I told these guys one by one, you know, if you won your bet by betting on me, you owe me the first round, the first three rounds at the bar the next time I see you. I love it. You made it clear on Saturday night that you are more than

And you've been more than ready to fight Peter Yan for months now. They just never made the fight. But I'll ask the question, now that we know it's going to be Peter Yan and Josiah, it looks like it's going to be in July on Fight Island. Kind of a two-mark question. Do you lean one way or the other? I know in your heart you'd like to be the guy to take out, you know, Jan, because everyone considers him, as you mentioned, the boogeyman,

and you love that challenge. But do you think Jan gets past Aldo? And do you believe that will be the guy you'll fight? I'm not sure. I know those guys used to train with each other. so there's probably some type of respect factor there. I think when I look at the landscape between those guys and the skill set, Jose Aldo is very, very well-rounded, but he typically has shied away from his kicking game,

his jih Tzu game, and primarily just boxes. I think Pidion is going to come through with the kicking game, the kickboxing, the moit, the clinch game, and the whole package. So I think Jose Aldo's got to be cautious about that and really paying attention and make sure he's not being one-dimensional and giving Pidion an easy predictability of the version of Jose Alas that's going to show up that night. So it really just depends on what these guys think,

if they want to just put on an entertaining fight or if they're out there to competing to win. I think that's the mindset that we have to try to dive into to see who's going to step up and bring that type of mindset to the fight. So I never wish ill will saying, I wish this guy won or this guy lost. I really don't care. It's the best guy, let them have their night.

Whoever is the better man, let them win. And whoever I get to face, I'm excited about the opportunity. And, you know, I worked hard to get back into this position. I think a lot of guys would have been broken. And, again, this Bandoah Division is stacked. Anybody could be a champion on any given day. And there's guys that are not ranked right now who could be a champion on any given day. So to be the guy who's leading this pact of the Baintingway Division,

I intend if Piedon win at my whole team, we're ready, we're bringing the C4, we're going to put it on his railroad tracks, and we're going to blow that shit up. So, um, if he wins, we're ready to go. Yeah. And I imagine even if it's Aldo, you'll gladly welcome that fight as well. It doesn't really matter. As long as you're getting your title, it doesn't really matter.

Oh, not at all. Jose Aldo's a legend. It accomplished many of great things in his lifetime, and, uh, to be the guy like that, if he were to come down and win the band-and-weight title, uh, even after coming off of a loss, because I thought it was a close fight. I thought he did win. But if he comes out and wins that fight against a tough, highly-tiled Piedian,

I would love to be the guy who could take that strap away from him and further cement my name in the history books at the Benaway Division. And that's what it's all about, man. I'm here to fight the best guys. I'm not waiting to these guys are out of their primes to say I beat these guys. You know, I want to do it when these guys are considered the greatest and the scariest. That's when I want to do it because at the end of the day, it might be a big challenge mentally for myself,

but to grow up didn't do it, I know people can never doubt me. And I want to be someone that people will remember for years to come. I look at my career now. I'm like I'm almost similar in the path of Ali in terms of what he's done inside and outside of the Outticon. And I want to be that voice for change and just someone that can be a role model for the people who grew up just like me and be a pinnacle of hope. So that's kind of the way I look at my career. Yeah.

I asked you this on the virtual media day on Thursday, and you saw it on Saturday night. You know, guys like Devin Clark made a statement, you know, kneeling down in the Octagon, and no Alice Casares talked about it before and after the fight, and obviously I asked you that question before the fight, and then you mentioned it in the post-fight press. But obviously, everything else we've got going on in the world right now,

you mentioned that you're going to use your platform, you know, to get the word out there, to reach out to your community, to reach out to people because we are, you know, a lot of people are hurting right now, man. And I thought that was big of you because obviously it's a huge moment in your career. One of the biggest wins of your career sets you up for a title fight, but you still were looking towards other people that had other things going on. I know you said it was important to you to do that, but, I mean, does it kind of resonate even after the fight that you felt, you know,

it necessary. You need to continue to push down on the whole open and let people know that you stand for these things and you're out there. You said, you know, if you were home, you'd be in the protest right now. obviously your teammates fighting, so you're not doing that right now, but you know, you're still supporting these issues and you want to be out there in the forefront of this whole thing. Yeah, 100%. You know, I think it's important for people to understand, like, yeah, we are athletes.

I know people turn to pro sports to kind of get away from the real world and get away from the daily activities of their lives. But at the end of the day, we're still people who are still living in this world as well as they are. And I think it's important to let people know, like, where we stand. and push a good message if we can. I think promoting positivity and peace and just everyone respecting each other and just having a better understanding and empathy,

I think it's a very important message for us to use our platforms for. I understand the whole thing with sponsorships and people are nervous that sponsors might not want to give them money or they feel they don't, sponsors might not be in the same. line of their beliefs. So it's a very slippery slope. But thank God, I'm with people that believe in the same stuff that I'm believing in.

And that's all I can ever ask for at the end of the day. You know, you only get one career, you get out of a short career window. And I just hope that I could touch as many people's lives and impact them as best as I can. And I feel like I'm doing that, you know. So I may be a Joker, maybe somewhat of a comedian, a clown outside of the Athaghan, because I like to have fun. I like to break balls and that's just in my nature. But at the same time, I want to preach a good message

and lead people with something that I truly do believe in and hopefully that can touch the minds of younger youth and really shape the world. You know, at the end of the day, if I could change one mind, one opinion, and really influence the greater good, I think I've done my part. And a lot of people will help me coming up through the wrestling community, pay for stuff for me, pay for my wrestling tournaments,

pay for my singles, my food, and help me get to where I am. And I just kind of want to pay it forward because they didn't have to do that for me. I was just some random kid, some random minorities that they just thought really loved wrestling. And they took care of me and every one of my expenses and to have that opportunity being blessed with that. Now a lot of people have that opportunity. So I want to make sure I kind of do my part and paying it for it and make sure I let people know, like, field you know you know if someone believes in you you believe in yourself

and you take yourself seriously you know you can accomplish anything that you want to accomplish in this world as long as you put the work in and you earn it yeah well you said before the fight you said as important as this fight was and this was a hugely important fight for you some things are still bigger than fighting and that's you know it is true

like we I love the UFC on Saturday night it was a great distraction amazing fights all night long but again you know we can't forget about the rest of the world there are people out there suffering and I think it's important that you know you don't have to do it. I'm not telling everyone that, you know, they should go out and, you know, say what they want to say and speak their mind.

But I think it's important that we have people who are willing to speak their mind. And you obviously are one of those. And again, you're going to, you know, if you become Bantamweight Champion, you're going to have even bigger platform to, you know, to resonate for change out there. And I am quite sure you want to do that. Yeah, you look at all these sports, you look at all these fighters. There's so many fighters on the UFC roster. There's so many fighters, um, basketball players are.

on in the NBA roster, NFL players, and you don't see a lot of these athletes using their platform to really push a good message and really try to create change. And they might be doing stuff outside of what we know, outside of social media. But at the same time, I think it's when you have the opportunity to really influence the masses, I think it's super important to step up and really express how you feel because you never know who's watching. That's kind of where I'm at with everything. It's a, man, this day and age is so sad, you know, I do feel like change has been coming for a very long time and there's no better time than today.

And I think for people to kind of go out there and really push a good message. At the end of the day, I think it's all about respect, just pushing a good message and really just trying to get people to somewhat get on the same page. I think that's extremely important. and I'm just proud to be in this position that I am and be able to have the influence that I have on the younger generation because it's about that revolving door. If I could change someone who's on that revolving door and get them off that carousel and break the cycle,

I think I've done my part in for humanity, and that's what I'm all about. Yeah, absolutely. Now, last thing before I get you out here, Aljo, I'm not going to get you in trouble by asking specifics, but I saw a tweet you made late Saturday night, and I'm just going to ask it very simply, and you don't have to go into detail.

But did you end up hanging out with Sean O'Malley after UFC 250 on Saturday night? No, no. I tweeted to show on Molly, like, hey, you want to spark one up? But we end up going out. And I didn't see his tweet because I turn off my notifications.

Otherwise, my phone is just blown up 24-7. So I turned up my notifications. And then when I did go on to look, I saw that he responded. But I was already back in the hotel. I was like 4 a.m. at that point. That would have been actually pretty fun to kind of hang out with the young blood of this division. And just kick it a little bit.

You know, like I said, I never wish ill will in anybody's career or profitability and what they're able to achieve and accomplish. Amali's a tough dude. You know, we got a guy who wants to really, really beat him up. But at the end of the day, you know, I respect everyone who steps into Afghanistan. I'm sure my teammate does too. But, you know, we want to show that there's levels to this game. And like I said, it would have been fun to just kind of chop it up.

with him and just pick his brain as a young kid and maybe even share some knowledge of some the stuff that I learned coming up as a Bainawain and just coming up as a fighter, you know? I think what at the end of the day it's about just improving the life of everybody else. So yeah, he responded. It was later he said he was in his bed highest tits, but, you know, I just sold it. I saw the tweet way too late. It would have been fun to just kick it and just hang out with the young girls. blood and just preach some knowledge or maybe just share some things and bounce some thoughts up with each other.

Yeah, it's funny. I remember years ago talking to Matt Sarah when he mentioned his guy, what he said, he kept saying, Aljo, Aljo, Aljo, this kid Aljo, Matt Sarah talked about you years ago when you were coming up. Is it fun to know now that you are the number one contender of Bairns Wade and you've been in the UFC for quite a while, now you're the veteran? And you can say a guy like Sean O'Meis and say, you're the young kids. Like, you're now the veteran. It's kind of weird to think about that, right? Yeah, it is You know I remember when I fought Marlon Marais

And you know Even though the fight didn't go my way Just being in the back room Working out losing weight The entire fight week I noticed that a lot of people Were stopping their workouts Or

If they were about to start their workout They were wait a little bit Just kind of watch us work out And it kind of gave me that like Assurance I gave in The torch has been passed You are now the veteran And that was only my knife fight in the U.S.

UFC. And this last past weekend, that was my 14th fight with the UFC company. And to see that, I think it says a lot, man. You know, people look at you. And I remember when I made my debut, I was watching Daniel Cormier workout. I was watching Sarah McMahon get ready for her fight with Ronda Rousey and just being able to see the demeanor and the attitude in how people prepared for their fights. I'm now that guy that people look to and they may not say it, but they're watching and they're seeing how we do things. And I think that's kind of important, just kind of how we shape the landscape of the sport.

Yeah, absolutely. Well, Aljo, again, congratulations on the wind, man, amazing, amazing performance. Enjoy a little downtime. I know you guys don't take a lot of downtime because you're always working. I know your teammates got to fight this weekend. Best luck to him as well.

But thank you, as always for the time, and enjoy at least a little vacation. And hopefully next time we talk, as we're talking about who you're fighting for that bantamweight title, whether it's Peter Yan, or Jose Aldo. I look forward to it. Thank you. Yeah, it's going to be a big next two weekend, man. This weekend is a big weekend, and I'm super excited to be a part of it.

And I'm just glad we're able to fight and compete. You know, the world is at a standstill right now. And for the UFC to be the only sport pretty much on TV, there's a big opportunity for a lot of us to make our name, you know, to be known to the masses out there. And people get to tune in so we can use this opportunity to make new fans. and kind of cultivate new opportunities. So I'm super excited to watch our guys fight this weekend.

Absolutely. Well, we'll talk soon, Aljo. I appreciate the time as always. Thanks, Damon. I appreciate it. All right, bye-bye. Take it.