Aljamain Sterling wants Dana White to not put him in uncomfortable situations in the media.
UFC President Dana White’s job is to promote the UFC. Over the years he has helped the UFC grow to be the biggest MMA fight promotion in the world. He has had a hand in making some of the biggest MMA stars in the world. His methods are not always accepted by all the fighters on the roster and many times some people have had problems with the way he runs the show. Now he is seemingly turning his back on champion Aljamain Sterling by accusing the bantamweight champion of delaying his return.
The plan for the UFC bantamweight title is to have champion Sterling take on number one contender Sean O’Malley at UFC 292 in Boston in August. The UFC announced this card but now it seems as though Sterling is not officially signed on yet. He took to Twitter to ask for alternative dates but O’Malley is set on August 19. White accused Sterling of “not being able to get out of his own way” during recent presser. Now Sterling is upset that White called him out that way.
Aljamain Sterling takes to YouTube to respond to criticism from Dana White
Sterling has taken to his YouTube page in a new video response to White. He is confused by the criticism that his boss is throwing his way. In Sterling’s mind, he is doing everything right and is willing to play along with White’s “bad guy” routine if necessary.
“You’re not going to keep up with this defamation, because Uncle Dana brah I’m still waiting on that Lambo,” he said. “You put me in the situation and you make it sound as if you want me to be the bad guy. Tell me behind closed doors, behind the scenes this is what we’re going to do, this is the script, here it is. It’s not WWE but this is the script. I like to play a character. I’ll be him, let me be the character but get me in on the joke.”
Dana White says the Sterling/O'Malley fight is on.#UFC pic.twitter.com/NKQFUe9F4L
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) May 21, 2023
Sterling believes he is in the right, as champion to dictate when he fights next. He rattled off a long list of accomplishments over the last few years, along with injuries sustained. He feels he is more than willing to accommodate what the UFC needs from him and is perplexed by the pushback from the boss.
“I’ve done everything the UFC has asked me to do,” he said.”Every single time they’ve asked me to fight, I’ve saddled up with my nuts on the table and I showed out every single time. At what point do I get credit from the UFC, from Uncle Dana? Dana is super nice behind closed doors but then he tells me, I can’t get out of my own way. I’m like, what does that even mean? Just clarify what it means?. If you’re going to say that because of me saying, yeah, I’m fighting, but I’m also banged up and I want to see how my body [feels], there has never been a fight that was scheduled where people signed the contract — and remember, contracts are just a formality.”
Sterling is fresh off of his last win over Henry Cejudo on May 6. He has mentioned before that fighting in August would be one of the quickest turnarounds for a UFC champion in years. He is holding his title defense against O’Mally contingent on his body’s healing and how he feels.
