UFC 292: Aljamain Sterling eyeing up shot at Alex Volkanovski after ‘whooping’ Sean O’Malley

Aljamain Sterling first needs to take care of ‘a popularity contest for little kids’ – and then he has his eyes fixed on a real fight that can elevate him into a new stratosphere of UFC respect.

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – MAY 06: Aljamain Sterling react after his victory over Henry Cejudo in the UFC bantamweight championship fight during the UFC 288 event at Prudential Center on May 06, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Aljamain Sterling has already mapped out his path to all time combat sports greatness.

And Alex Volkanovksi stands directly in his way.

‘Aljo’ – who can already lay claim to being one of the best 135-pound fighters in UFC history – defends his bantamweight belt against loud mouth ‘Sugar’ Sean O’Malley at UFC 292 this weekend.

It’s an intriguing match-up, with O’Malley seemingly talking himself into title contention against Sterling, who toiled away for years before getting his chance to shine.

Which is why Sterling doesn’t give ‘Sugar’ much hope, and why he’s already eyeing up Volkanovski.

“It’s not about what you deserve, it’s about what you can negotiate for yourself, and he’s negotiated his way into an ass whooping,” Sterling tells this masthead of O’Malley’s years-long campaign for a title shot.

“He’s not battle tested. He wants match-ups that are favourable for him. He’s strategic in who he wants to fight.

“Now he’s got nowhere to run. I look forward to the enjoyment of punching him in the face.”

Sean O'Malley and Aljamain Sterling had a heated face-off after Sterling's victory over Henry Cejudo. Picture: Getty

Sterling and O’Malley came face-to-face in the Octagon moments after Aljo’s win over Henry Cejudo in May. It was an unplanned face-off, and one in which Sterling says O’Malley revealed a lot about himself.

“He usually chirps from the safety of his couch,” he said of their face-off. “I’d just beaten one of the greatest combat sports athletes of all time, then I had this high-fructose, corn syrup guy run into my Octagon and try to mess up my moment.

“He was really frail, skinny, jawing at the lip and trying to hype himself up into believing he could beat me.”

If everything goes to plan and Sterling makes good on his promise to “finish him with a second round TKO,” it will likely be the last time we see him at bantamweight.

Next stop, featherweight and a date with Volk.

“Fighting a guy like Volkanovski is monumental for my career,” he says. “It’s bragging rights saying you can beat a guy like that.

“I don’t know if there’s anything bigger.

“Beating Sean is a popularity contest for little kids who play Fortnite. Beating a guy like Volk is for the pure fans, the hardcore fans who appreciate the art for what it is.

“Beating Volk is historic, and I’ll go down in history as one of the greatest of all time.”

Sterling’s win over two-weight world champion Henry Cejudo is one of the greatest moments of his career. Picture: Getty

Sterling’s rise to bantamweight dominance didn’t come easily. He was something of a reluctant champion at first, after winning the belt via disqualification over Petr Yan.

Since then though, he has been nearly untouchable, beating Yan in the rematch, stopping TJ Dillashaw and outpointing Henry Cejudo.

It’s an impressive resume that he believes should see him get an immediate shot at Volkanovski when he decides to go up a division.

“Hell yeah it does,” he says. “Look at the guys I’ve beaten, it’s a who’s who.

“It’s hard to say I’m not a worthy contender and worthy of a shot at Volkanovski.”

Volkanovski, who most recently dispatched Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290 in July, likely has another featherweight defence against rising star Ilia Topuria, which he wants in December.

Sterling believes Volkanovski (L) should have won a decision against Islam Makhachev (R). Picture: Getty Images

The Aussie is also desperate for a rematch with lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, but is well aware of Sterling’s plans on moving up a weight class.

Sterling is one of many who thinks Volkanovski actually beat Makhachev, and says he knows how to beat the number one ranked pound-for-pound fighter on the planet.

“It’s my grappling and my wrestling,” he says. “It’s not just wrestling or just Jiu Jitsu, it’s a combination and my unorthodox striking will add a huge wrinkle.

“I move just as well as he does – I’m nimble – and the craftiness of how I take the back makes it interesting.

“But first, it’s the Sugar Booger show, so I’ll have to deal with him this weekend before I go on to greatness.”

Originally published as UFC 292: Aljamain Sterling eyeing up shot at Alex Volkanovski after ‘whooping’ Sean O’Malley