My Mom's Basement - EPISODE 64 - ALJAMAIN STERLING

Episode Date: June 8, 2020

Robbie is joined by "The Funk Master" Aljamain Sterling fresh off his win over Cory Sandhagen at UFC 250 to discuss his stellar performance, his hilarious post-fight slip-up, fighting at the UFC Apex, the future of the bantamweight division, and more.You can find every episode of this show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. Prime Members can listen ad-free on Amazon Music. For more, visit barstool.link/mymomsbasement

Hey, My Mom's Basement listeners, you can find our episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube, and Prime members can listen ad-free on Amazon Music. Great way to get a big win over a big name. And this was the people's main event. Everyone was saying, going into UFC 250, everyone was really looking forward to your fight, right? The pressure was sort of on to deliver, and you very much did that. You went in, and it looked like you executed the game plan perfectly, pretty much. I know you'll probably have a very in-depth breakdown of this on the weekly scraps on all of your content.

But take me through what was going through your head as you were, like I said, executing your game plan perfectly. Man, it couldn't have gone any better. You know, I think the day of the fight, I made the decision, like, I'm just going to go out there, try to take them him down put the pressure on him and just to see what happens you know I wasn't sure how I want to approach the takedowns because I want to be wary of the knees and uh his long range he attacks so I didn't want to make a mistake but I knew my awareness was gonna help me out a lot and uh saw everything coming and I think he was I think he froze in there I think he was shocked by how assertive I was and how determined I was to get him backed up and get him down to the mat. And I think once I got a hold of him,

he didn't realize the strength difference. And I think that was pretty much what set the tone of the fight. Me getting a hold of him and putting that body lock triangle on, I think he realized he wasn't getting out. At what point did you know that he wasn't getting out? Because as a fan, when we're watching scrambles on the ground sometimes, it looks like a fight's about to be over, if a choke is sinked in right and then the fighter will escape somehow miraculously when did you know oh this fight's over i knew the fight was

over once i was going for the first rear naked choke with the face crank i was like i don't think this guy has an answer for this situation at all he tried to do some of the right things addressing the 54 body lock uh two on one trying to get his shoulders to the mat all the right things you're supposed to do in that situation but i don't think he realizes that the type of squeeze that i have is just a different level and um once i got there i knew i was like oh this guy's done man game and what was it like fighting in the empty arena because afterwards you went bananas you're screaming dana where you at you're screaming at the commentary team you were just going absurd. So was your corner, obviously, Ally Aquinta and his hairdo,

which he looks like he's trying to copy you. I absolutely love it. He's got the pro going. There he is. What's going on? Look at that. Fucking hair is raging, I'll tell you what. So what was it like fighting in that empty arena?

I mean, it felt like sparring. We made the right we made the right adjustments we trained with no music we had an empty gym a couple of times because everything was locked down back in new york uh probably more locked down than a lot of than a lot of other places but we got the right looks in man and we made sure we did all the right things to kind of get ourselves in that mindset that zone and coming from a wrestling background sometimes you compete in empty arenas empty gyms with no one really there so I think it was kind of something that we've we're already used to and

kind of get that refresh it was like a sparring day but with bad intentions you know it's kind of like a almost like a high school showdown like I'm gonna see you after school uh you meet me here at 8 p.m at the park your team versus my team if anyone, we're jumping in. So it was kind of like one of those. But it was good, man. It was all good. I knew it was just going to be one of those things we're showing up for a fist fight. Get in, get out, and go on with our lives. It was training bizarre in the lead up to this.

You mentioned it was tough. You obviously had restrictions on it, and you didn't have your full corner in Vegas. And Ray Longo sent you an adorable wholesome video of just a parade going on outside your gym as soon as I watched that I was like all right there's really no way he loses after watching that video yeah it was sick man that that made me feel really good man I felt the love from all the way over here in Vegas and uh it was different man not having the coaches around full-time but at the end of the day I still got my training partners that I'm with full-time that I train with day in and day out.

The Dog Pound training crew, man, this is what it is. I think we've got a tough-nosed team, and everyone's game elevates each other. I think that's the main thing. You know, we all want to see each other succeed and push each other and making sure we all accomplish our goals one by one. So I think that's what it's all about. And to have that little difference in the training camp,

I don't think it bothered us too much. Maybe in the beginning, but then when we realized, like, God, this is all we need. We don't need anything else fancy. This is like Rocky versus Ivan Drago, you know, the big stage. Oh, shit. Who is that? Steve, hold on.

No, my roommate slash teammate. He had just one job. he had just one job he had just one job listen i don't mean to be disrupting the training session i want you guys to be doing well i support the sarah longo team do what you got to do we got to talk about one thing that's not as favorable as everything we've been discussing thus far you did take an l on saturday and it was in your post-fight interview talking about Peter Jan and you just dropped I'm gonna be coming on your ass Peter Jan's the greatest guy and yeah you better win your fight because I'm coming on your ass wait I'm coming for that ass what pause Aljo in this fight this whole card it seemed like you knew immediately I mean you hit

you hit a very funny pause with Joe Rogan did you just know like oh man i'm never gonna live that down i was so in the moment and then when i realized what i said i was like wait hold up pause i forgot yeah that was i don't think i'm ever gonna be able to live that one down that one's hilarious man and i'm ready to get into memes and porn hub um yon versus al al joe you know get your butt plug ready for the title fight. So there's a lot of jokes going around right now. They call me the spunk master. So this is a – it's funny, man. It's all funny games.

But, yeah, that was a big slip up on my part. But it was funny looking back at it. Dude, hysterical. That sounded like something Tito Ortiz would be saying nowadays. But so, so so so funny and then you actually finished your post-fight interview with what I thought was very nice message for everyone back at home everyone protesting for Black Lives Matter for George Floyd and you said even when you go back after these you'll probably join your siblings right

yeah yeah for sure that you know they're doing their parts and join the protest and everything posting pictures and you know everything's peaceful So it's nice to see that they're becoming more mature and kind of understanding, like, movements that are going on within our communities and trying to stand for the greater good and hopefully for proper change in the social injustices going on. But, you know, this situation is just deeply rooted, man. There's just so many things that need to be addressed and um hopefully slowly but surely we can start to make those changes absolutely so getting back to fighting for a second you're on the rise right you're on this

five fight win streak you've been going bananas all over the past few years over the past few fights you had that crazy um knee bar crank whatever that i don't even know what the technical term is for that over cody statement it looked like it looked like a bad week next week do you feel that you've made any vast improvements or vast changes to the way you train or the way you fight that's brought you on this rise or the way you look at fighting or do you think it was just a natural occurrence and it came about and it was just waiting to happen? I think the Marlon Marais fight was the turning point in my career. Kind of addressing every fight the same. I think I kind of lost sight of that going into that fight. I know it was a short notice fight that I took.

I think it was like two and a half weeks notice, maybe three. And I didn't do my homework. I didn't pay much respect to the guy. I was just coming off the biggest win of my career over Henny Brown, two-fight winning streak. I thought the funk master was back and no one could touch this. And I really thought I was untouchable, man. And I think that mindset kind of took away from the seriousness that I had in terms of doing my homework and really deciphering and breaking down my opponents. And I think that lack of respect humbled me real quick and brought me back down to

earth that hey man anyone can lose once you lose focus and um I think that helped me turn things up a notch uh you know that was like the monkey and the the elf in the room like every fight you can potentially get knocked out from that fight on I was like dude go out on your shield and just go out there and fight your heart out and that's really what it's all about um I think having that ease and that peace made me realize like dude you can do it all it's just a matter of you being comfortable in there and just letting it all hang out wow that's really fascinating for me to hear because you're a guy who's fought the majority of your fights in the ufc right you you've been there you've done it for everything so to hear you still seemingly like really really learning and adjusting this

not late in your career because you're on the rise, but this far into your career is nice to hear as a fan. What were your thoughts on Henry Cejudo's retirement when you first heard it? I think he was just leveraging for more money. And I do think he realizes that this is a shark tank of a division. He's not the tallest guy. And I think he knows he has his work cut out for him when he starts to fight the bigger guys in this division.

Not guys that are a little bit older, who's been out of the game for a long time, like Dominic Cruz, who's still talented, but I think time is somewhat passing by as being the guy on the top of that food chain. I think you got Marcel Pidion, Corey Sanhagen, you got even the Cody Stamens, I think. Rob Font, another tall individual.

Pedro Munoz, a guy who's, you know, he comes forward with relentless pressure. Even Garbrandt, man, he can still crack. I think, you know, he still might have a suspect chin that we didn't really get to see from this past weekend. But I think he fought a lot smarter in avoiding taking those shots. And he's still dangerous. He could put anybody out. So I think a combination of those things, man.

Money. He's older now. He wants to have a family So I think a combination of those things, man, money. He's older now. He wants to have a family. I don't know what to make of it. I do think he'll come back eventually for the right fight. That makes the most sense. If there's an opportunity. Maybe it's yourself right there.

It could be me. And I think he likes challenges. And I think if the money is right, he'll come back. And I would love to be the guy to welcome him back. Hopefully, I'm the one sitting on top of that throne. Yeah. I mean, the whole bantamweight division, like you just laid it out, seriously is on fire.

So he retires and the title is vacant. And the UFC did some kind of interesting stuff here. So they pulled number three from a fight with number one, right, with Mraz. They pulled Peter Jan and put him in a fight with number six, Jose Aldo. Were you just like completely as confused as the fans were when that happened? I know you had a fight, so you probably didn't want to get pulled from that fight. Like what were your thoughts when that happened? I thought it was weird.

You know, the UFC does some strange things sometimes. And, you know, it's their job. They know what's better for the company, I guess. So in terms of the numbers, maybe they have an inside man who really knows the numbers in and out that I don't know, the fans don't get to see. So I'm trusting that that's what it is. And if they say it's going to sell, hopefully it's great for them

because at the end of the day, if they get paid, I think we all get paid as well. So hopefully it is what they say it is. And I just try to look at everything glass half full. Obviously, I think it's still a clown fight because this guy is – yeah, he's a legend, but at the same time, he hasn't done anything in this division yet. For them to be rewarding him like this is a little bit absurd.

But, again, it's their company. They can do whatever they want. And I'm just still building my name. I think everyone's starting to realize that the Funk Express is supposed to be in your head. I think you're right about that. It feels like everyone's starting to realize that the funk express is supposed to be for the Bantamweight title. Are you visualizing things differently? Is this like, hey, this is everything that I've been working for and looking at things, like you said, I guess a little differently? Yeah, 100%, man.

This is everything I've been working my ass off for. I've been in this game for about 10 years now. I've been wrestling since 10th grade in high school. And I've just been forever a student of the game, learning combat sports. And to get here, starting at the bomb squad days, back in the day with a lot of these guys and getting to this position, a lot of ups and downs, coming up short at the NCAA's D3, but being still accomplishing some goals,

but not everything I want to achieve. Now it's like all at the pinnacle, man. I'm like right there on the cusp of that. And to realize a dream would be something super special to me and uh i'm gonna make sure i do everything in my power to seize that opportunity and you know if the calls fall in my favor then great you know it was meant to be and um the only thing i can do is try to control my my destiny by going out there and just let it let it all hang out you know taking control of that opportunity season moment yeah i think you had so much support going into Saturday, but if you didn't going into Saturday, now you do.

I mean, everyone is really behind you going for this title, I think. Before we get you out of here, another bantamweight fight that was maybe a showcase fight, you would say, on UFC 250 was the one that kicked it off. Sean O'Malley versus Eddie Wineland. I wanted to just get your thoughts on Sean O'Malley as a guy who's been there, done that in the UFC. You've seen it all, like I've said.

What do you think of him as a prospect? I think O'Malley's a tough dude, man. He's definitely a well-deserved – he deserves the name of being a prospect. He's a talented individual, serious skills. He hasn't yet been tested. I know he fought Eddie Wineland, but Eddie Wineland's on the end of his career. So he's been put out a couple times at this point. I think he's had a lot of wars.

So I think he's a little bit more, yeah, he's more battle-tested, but I think his durability has definitely gone down. He's still a veteran of the game. But tough dude. I think he's a potential UFC champion, you know. He's young. He's got charisma. He's a potential UFC champion. You know, he's young, he's got charisma, he's got the it factor.

And, um, I can't say enough good things about him. You know, I was, I hit him up on Twitter, like, yo,

uh, you trying, you trying to spark one up? Cause I know he's, I saw that. Yeah. He was in bed already. Highest taste.

I didn't see the tweet until I got back from the bar. So, uh, we missed that one. I think that would have been a good one for, for fans to see. And, uh, it is what it is, man. I never that would have been a good one for fans to see. And it is what it is, man.

I never wish ill will for people. Much success to him. And, you know, we'll see what happens with his career. Yeah, I saw those tweets yesterday. They really did make me laugh because I was like, oh, man, that would be like a podcast that I'd be down for. You two getting stoned together in a Vegas hotel or doing something like that. A lot of people have been saying maybe you do Garbrandt versus O'Malley next. I know you're're not a matchmaker but what do you think of that just as a bantamweight in the division i mean that's a huge catapult in terms of name value for o'malley

and for garbrandt in terms of just name value yeah garbrandt's already a champ future a former champ but it's different i think the ufc is going to have two stars going at each other and potentially have one knock off the other. You know, you could kind of rebuild Garbrandt, you know, with another win, maybe two, to potentially have him knocked out. You know, again, with this chin, we don't know. They have a long, lanky guy like O'Malley go out there. It's going to be a stand-up affair.

I would imagine that Garbrandt is probably not going to utilize his wrestling, which he never really does. It leaves opportunities for O'Malley to capitalize. And maybe he does go with the wrestling. We don't know. You know, so it remains to be seen. But I think O'Malley's looking to take the longer term, the longer route. And I think he's smart about that.

You know, he's going to make more money, keep building up those highlight reel knockouts and finishes. And that's what's going to get people excited about him. He's got a huge following already. He's probably making a shit ton of money already outside of the uc so i feel like that could only benefit him but i don't know if it would be too much too soon i think those thoughts are very interesting real quick before we get you out of here one more thing if you are put in this title fight next right do you have any preference

jose aldo or p Yan? Do you have any, when you're visualizing it in your head, who are you thinking of? Neither guy, man. Whoever, that faces a question mark. It's may the best man win. Either way, I got my work cut out for me. They're both two tough, high-level competitors,

and either one is going to be fireworks, you know? So I'm excited about the opportunity to face either one of those guys, man. They both got a big name behind both of them. Pideon's got the hype right now because he's younger, more relevant in terms of what he's done in the division. So that would be a bigger fight, I think, in terms of the division. But in terms of name value, Jose Aldo would be the name.

To get him on the resume would be huge, you know. So I'm all about the legacy as well, but at the same time, you know, I want to be one of those guys who fought all the best guys in the world while they were in their primes, and that's what I'm all about, man. I want people to go back and look back like, damn, Sterling was a bad motherfucker, man. He fought all these guys. He took these guys out. He might have came on short with some of these guys,

but then he bounced back in such a big way against every single prospect that they threw at him, took him out, and won the belt. That's what I want. I want that to be my Cinderella story. I love that. I'd love that for you as well. Tell the people where they could find you on social and the weekly scraps and all that stuff.

You guys can find me on my YouTube channel, the weekly scraps, Funkmaster MMA. All my channels are Funkmaster MMA. YouTube, Funkmaster MMA, the Twitter, Instagram Funkmaster MMA. So hit me up. I do engage with the fans. I'm trying to go through probably at least 500 messages right now still from text messages, Instagram and all that stuff.

So I'm trying. So I'm slowly but surely working my way through. So I'm trying to get back to everybody as best as I can. And thank you guys for always the love and support. Funk Bandits, we did it, baby. We're still coming. We're still coming.