Aljamain Sterling doesn’t believe the UFC’s rush to book him against Sean O’Malley paid off.
Back in August, Sterling put the UFC Bantamweight Championship on the line against O’Malley in the main event of UFC 292. O’Malley sent “Funk Master” crashing to the canvas off a clean punch early in round two. After some follow-up punches the bout was stopped.
Once he was able to mull things over, Sterling made the decision to move up to the featherweight division. He’ll meet Calvin Kattar at UFC 300.
Aljamain Sterling Grills Sean O’Malley & UFC Over Low PPV Numbers
During a video posted on his YouTube channel, Aljamain Sterling said that UFC 292 wasn’t all that it was made out to be in terms of PPV buys.
“I got the pay-per-view numbers and I’m just like, ‘these are the numbers that this guy was trying to say like he’s this big pay-per-view star?’ When I saw the numbers, I literally sat there and I go, ‘If I had any idea this is what the numbers would’ve been, if I could’ve predicted that this is what it would’ve been my ass would’ve waited and taken my vacation then, and then gear up to fight now.'”
Fight fans may recall former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo claiming the event did between 300,000 and 350,000 pay-per-view buys. Sterling said he didn’t exactly reap the rewards of being in the main event of the show.
“I trusted that the bag was gonna be this blow me away kind of thing, bigger than all the other ones; it wasn’t,” Sterling said.
Sterling followed up with a post on his X account, doubling down on the numbers for UFC 292 being underwhelming.
Context: In hindsight, I should’ve waited.
Reality: I didn’t wait. Numbers weren’t the highest PPV I been on as a Champ.
Reality: Not my worse PPV pay, but the rush was NOT worth the squeeze in the end.
O’Malley PPV draw power can rise IF he can keep winning- but… https://t.co/eXuC6UxbrV
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) December 26, 2023
“Context: In hindsight, I should’ve waited.
Reality: I didn’t wait. Numbers weren’t the highest PPV I been on as a Champ.
Reality: Not my worse PPV pay, but the rush was NOT worth the squeeze in the end.
O’Malley PPV draw power can rise IF he can keep winning- but impressively, like anyone else. No hate. No salt. Just facts.
Good luck to Chito and Sean. Merry Christmas.”
