Video: UFC 170 winner Aljamain Sterling says 'it felt like I had paste in my mouth'

LAS VEGAS – Even after arriving to the venue hours early and walking though the UFC 170 fight-night arena as part of a visualization process, Aljamain Sterling admits he was overcome by a strange feeling.

Despite that feeling, Sterling (9-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) overcame a rough second round to earn a unanimous-decision victory over fellow bantamweight Cody Gibson (11-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC) in a FOX Sports 1-televised preliminary-card bout at Saturday’s UFC 170 event in Las Vegas.

Sterling said his breathing never seemed right and that it plagued him throughout the night, including the second round, which Gibson won.

“It literally felt like I had paste in my mouth,” Sterling said. “That’s what it felt like it. You can imagine what it feels like going three hard rounds like that with a guy like that. It’s not very comfortable.”

Listen to him discuss the bizarre feeling, as well as his ability to rally for a win and what he learned in his famous training camp, in the above video.

And for complete coverage of UFC 170, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.