Aljamain Sterling Criticizes UFC For Booking Sean O'Malley vs. Marlon Vera 2: "Whatever Happened to Sport?"

Sterling isn't thrilled seeing Vera get a shot before Merab.
Aljamain Sterling Criticizes UFC For Booking Sean O'Malley vs. Marlon Vera 2: "Whatever Happened to Sport?"
Aljamain Sterling Criticizes UFC For Booking Sean O'Malley vs. Marlon Vera 2: "Whatever Happened to Sport?" /

Aljamain Sterling is questioning the UFC's decision to book Sean O'Malley vs. Marlon Vera 2.

O'Malley had been publicly lobbying to have his first UFC bantamweight title defense against "Chito." The "Sugar" show got his wish, as he will look avenge his lone career loss against Vera when they collide again at UFC 299 on March 9.

Ex-UFC Champion Henry Cejudo's Rant On Tom Aspinall Sparks Debate Among Fighters

Sterling had been vouching for either himself or Merab Dvalishvili to get the first crack at O'Malley. The "Funk Master" had a chance to avoid this situation, but he lost the bantamweight gold when he was stopped by O'Malley in the second round of their title fight back in August.

Taking to his YouTube channel, Aljamain Sterling criticized the UFC for leaving the true sport aspect of MMA out when booking the O'Malley vs. Vera rematch.

"I just feel like, whatever happened to sport, man? You know, I got into this game for multiple reasons. The main one was to become a UFC champion. I was able to do that, and of course, to make money."

Sterling then joked that this is the bed he made and it's time to lay in it.

"When I see this type of behavior, it's kind of like, I jokingly say, 'What have I created?' I feel like I let loose a monster."

Sterling appears to be moving on from the bantamweight division, at least for now. He is plotting a return in March, and he hopes his opponent is former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway.

If you use any quotes from this article, please leave an H/T to MMAKnockout.com for the transcription.

Stick with MMA Knockout for more daily coverage of the UFC and MMA

Follow MMA Knockout on Twitter and Facebook.


Published
Fernando Quiles Jr.
FERNANDO QUILES JR.

Fernando has over a decade of combat sports news writing experience. He currently covers MMA, boxing, and pro wrestling. Fernando joined MMA Knockout as the Lead Writer/Editor when it was founded in 2023.