Issue 148
December 2016
UFC Bantamweight,
Alias: The Funk Master,
Team: Serra-Longo,
Record: 17-3-0.
If Aljamain Sterling had his way, UFC 205 would have been stacked with fighters from New York against the rest of the world.
And Long Island’s flashy ‘Funk Master’, who suffered the first loss of his career in 2016, is determined to pick himself up from the disappointment of not being included on the landmark Madison Square Garden event to revive his world-title aspirations in 2017.
What does it mean to finally have MMA in New York?
For me, it’s a surreal thing. We can finally come out here and compete in front of our friends and family.
It has been a long time coming. Everybody has been waiting for this moment for more than a decade now. I wish I was on that card. I bring a New-York attitude and I represent the state very well.
You never know what you are going to see when ‘The Funk Master’ steps into the Octagon. I have to make sure I’m on the next one!
How did your injury recovery affect your ability to be available for UFC 205?
I started doing a little training a little earlier than I should have.
I just wanted to get a feel of how my body was healing before that. I was working on my conditioning just to make sure that when I get to the clearance day I am firing on all cylinders.
I would have been ready for this card but when I do get out, I can’t wait to show what I have learned since my last outing.
How important is it for UFC 205 to be stacked with New York talent?
Yeah, New York versus the world. That was my dream. There are more than enough guys in the UFC to have made that challenge happen.
There are a bunch of guys on the card, but I would have loved one side to be dominated by New Yorkers. I’ll be supporting all the local guys.
Who do you most want to fight next?
If I had a choice there are a couple different guys that I would want to face. I would want to see Rafael Assuncao, Michael McDonald or even Thomas Almeida stand across the cage that night.
These guys are in the same position as I am. Let’s see who can throw their name back in the hat of top contenders.
Do you feel the pressure of expectation as one of the upcoming stars from New York?
It’s cool. It’s something that we are flattered by. It’s great to know that people we hold in such high regard feel those things about us.
It keeps us motivated and keeps us wanting it more so we can fulfill that destiny of being those next guys in line.
Not just for our team but for the area as well.
How did the disappointment of not being named on the NYC card effect morale? Are you in camp with Chris Weidman?
I was joking around with Ray that he will have a lot on his plate to potentially have three of us (Chris Weidman, Al Iaquinta and Sterling) back-to-back on the card. And throw in Gian Villante, that would have been four guys ready to go. He’s probably secretly delighted that we all never got fights in hindsight.
For all of us to be in training camp at the same time and motivated for the same goal – the same night – would have been great. But we’re all still working hard and pushing Chris.
What do you make of former UFC champion Weidman’s rap game? Do you have any pointers for him?
He is trying to drop a couple bars. He is trying to relive his childhood dream of becoming the next Eminem or something.
He is funny, man. It’s always great being around that kind of energy in the gym.
LIGHT ON STRIKES
- Despite outlanding him by 32 significant strikes to nine*, Sterling suffered his first pro defeat – by split decision – In his last fight against Bryan Caraway at UFC Fight Night 88.
