Aljamain Sterling believes he is just one victory away from clinching a featherweight title shot.
Following a convincing unanimous decision win against reliable contender and former title challenger Brian Ortega in Shanghai, Sterling has progressed further up the featherweight ladder.
Now positioned as the fifth-ranked competitor in the weight class, the former bantamweight champion feels he is just one step away from challenging the reigning 145-pound champion Alexander Volkanovski.
“I believe the next viable matchup could be Diego Lopez or Yair Rodriguez,” Sterling mentioned during his guest appearance on the Pound 4 Pound podcast featuring Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo. “At that point, it’s undeniable. Who else would be competing? If you get past Ortega, then one more bout seems logical. Initially, it looked like they were going to favor Yair Rodriguez, but due to backlash, the UFC backed off.
“They’re now considering the winner of a possible clash between Aaron Pico and Aloy. If Aaron Pico performs well, he’s the next in line. The UFC has a strong interest in him. Stylistically, he could pose significant challenges, even for Volkanovski. He has powerful hands and solid striking ability.”
Aljamain Sterling discusses injury sustained during his win over Ortega
Sadly, Sterling’s significant victory over ‘T-City’ was marred by another injury.
“I received my MRI results: Grade 2 tear in my tricep,” Sterling shared on his YouTube channel. “But they referred to it as a strain. While reading the report, he says ‘Grade 2 strain.’ I’m feeling relieved, thinking it’s manageable. I thought, ‘Oh, it’s no big deal; just a strain. I’ll bounce back easily.’ Ryan chimed in, ‘A strain is a tear. What are you thinking?’ But yes, there is a partial tear in my tricep tendon. It’s still quite swollen.”
Regardless of the injury, Sterling remains optimistic that he can return to the Octagon before the close of 2025.
“I’m somewhat disappointed because of the momentum I had going, and then this setback occurs,” Sterling remarked. “I’m hoping to be back and ready to compete by December, which seems plausible. It ultimately depends on how quickly this heals.”
