Aljamain Sterling: If I'm going to be crippled and broken up, I'd rather have money to go with it

[Ted Williams' head]

Aljamain Sterling is right on the cusp of a UFC bantamweight title shot. The #5 ranked contender pulled off a fantastic guillotine choke vs. fellow top 10 ranked Johnny Eduardo at UFC Fight Night 80 in Las Vegas last month. The 26-year-old Long Island native is a perfect 12-0 in his MMA career, including 4-0 inside the Octagon. He's recorded 3 finishes in a row and has established himself as a potential UFC title challenger.

But, there's just one problem: Sterling's immediate future may not be in the UFC.

The Eduardo fight represented the last one on Sterling's current deal. His reported salary for UFC Fight Night 80 was $14,000/$14,000, well below the $40,000/$40,000 figure for unranked lightweight prospect Sage Northcutt. Sterling already turned down what he called a "laughable" offer from the UFC of $20,000/$20,000 (with $3,000 increases after each fight).

Sterling was asked whether or not he's been chastised or been given a talking to by the higher-ups in the UFC.

"From the upper echelon of the promotion? No I have not," said Sterling. "But I wouldn't be surprised if I did. Actually, I would be surprised, because I don't feel like I'm saying anything crazy. I don't think I'm saying anything over the top, right? I don't know, I can't judge for myself, but I think I'm saying everything in a respectful manner at the same time. I don't think there's anything I said it in such a way where [the UFC thinks] I'm throwing the company under the bus. It's just ... I'm just stating facts and I'm stating reasons why things should change."

As far as Sterling's future, he says his manager, Malki Kawa, told him another promotion was interested in signing him for more money than the UFC has offered, but never disclosed which one it was.

"I haven't even spoken to [Malki Kawa] yet because of the holidays. I know he told me another company was willing to pay me a lot more if I was really serious about coming over. I told him I'm for real, this is no joke. I'm trying to get paid. This whole legacy thing is cool, but at the end of the day, if I'm going to be crippled and broken up, I'd rather have money to go with it than to be crippled, broken up, and poor and just regretful and have a bad taste in my mouth from the sport, so I'm just looking out for #1."

LINK: Aljamain Sterling: If I'm going to be crippled and broken up, I'd rather have money to go with it


Aljamain hitting everyone with the truth, exposing Zuffa as crooks

 

[TheEmperorRises]

Dropping truth bombs

 

[Wild]

Thanks for sharing @DannyNL. Always helpful when members bring news (content) to the forums. If possible though, try to format them like I did there...it makes it extremely easy to then promote it to the front page. If not, that's cool too. One of us can edit. Thanks brother.

 

[Wild]

Now...onto the article.

As everyone could tell from Aljo's Q&A here, the dude has a ton of charisma & personality. As we've seen from his fights, he is one of the most talented guys in his division. So why would they lowball him with a $20k/$20k offer? He hinted at it, in his Q&A. And I think there's some truth to it.

Good to see him continuing to speak out. Hope he gets paid in full by Bellator.

 

[TheEmperorRises]

I really hope he goes to Bellator, gets paid and wins the title

The Human Anaconda> Dillasnake

 

[Ted Williams' head]

Thanks for sharing @DannyNL. Always helpful when members bring news (content) to the forums. If possible though, try to format them like I did there...it makes it extremely easy to then promote it to the front page. If not, that's cool too. One of us can edit. Thanks brother.

You know me bro I think people should be clicking the link and giving the creators of the media the clicks/screen time because they did the hard work and it goes into their bottom line to help pay to keep creating content. And Bloody Elbow do such a good job creating content and breaking big stories, I don't wanna fuck em over! Bad karma hahaha

 

[Wild]

You know me bro I think people should be clicking the link and giving the creators of the media the clicks/screen time because they did the hard work and it goes into their bottom line to help pay to keep creating content. And Bloody Elbow do such a good job creating content and breaking big stories, I don't wanna fuck em over! Bad karma hahaha

Agreed. We just like to post a blurb from the article AND the link. Up to you my man...no harm, no foul.

 

[Ted Williams' head]

Agreed. We just like to post a blurb from the article AND the link. Up to you my man...no harm, no foul.

Haha will do next time!