Aljamain Sterling opens up about pre-fight partying with Jon Jones and gives props to 'Bones' greatness: "He offered me couple of shots"
Aljamain Sterling has not fought since UFC 300, when he competed at featherweight for the first time since joining the division, defeating Calvin Kattar via unanimous decision. He is set to make his return against Movsar Evloev at UFC 310 next month.
'Funk Master' recently shared his thoughts on the greatness of Jon Jones, who is set to make his highly-anticipated return to the octagon this weekend as he headlines UFC 309 against Stipe Miocic. Speaking to Ariel Helwani on his self-titled show, Sterling shared:
"I've seen this firsthand. He offered me a couple shots at the bar and I was like I'm fighting in - I think I told him four or five weeks. And he was fighting in like two weeks... I was like, 'Am I doing something wrong?' Something's not mathing, the math ain't mathing right now. But then I watch him on TV and he's going out there and he obliterates the competition and I think there's something to be said about that."
Sterling noted that he is not advising people to go out and party before adding:
"I think he's physically gifted. I think he does all his homework. I think he is very meticulous in his preparation with getting the looks that he needs to see. The same way he didn't take that short notice fight with Chael Sonnen. He's not that guy. He wants to make sure he's got the utmost edge on you, in terms of knowing you inside and out before he's accepting a fight and knowing that he knows you better than you know yourself."
Check out Aljamain Sterling's comments on Jon Jones below:
Sterling added that Jones' dedication makes him a dangerous person to stop. He claimed that alcohol or cocaine won't affect 'Bones' due to the work he puts into his craft.
Aljamain Sterling nearly retired following loss to Sean O'Malley
Aljamain Sterling lost the bantamweight belt at UFC 292 as he suffered a second-round TKO loss to Sean O'Malley. During his appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, 'Funk Master' revealed that he considered retirement following the bout, stating:
"I was like, maybe I coach. Maybe I just help the guys and help that way. I was just champ, but there was a lot from the mental aspect of being coerced into the fight. I know people are going to say, 'Oh, shut the f**k up, you signed the contract.' Before I signed the contract, there were multiple nos. I don't know how many times I've gotta keep repeating this. There were multiple nos."
Check out Aljamain Sterling's comments on considering retirement below:
Sterling noted that the mental strains of his title run, including constantly being in a camp, began to affect him. The former bantamweight champion defended his belt thrice in 13 months, the last of which came just three months before UFC 292.