Aljamain Sterling: 2 more UFC wins makes me an 'appealing fight' for bantamweight title

GDANSK, Poland – Aljamain Sterling is confident about where he stands in the UFC bantamweight division, and he sees a clear path to the title over the next year or less.

Sterling (14-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC), who faces Rani Yahya (24-9 MMA, 9-3 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 123 on Dec. 9 at Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif. (the card airs on FS1 following early prelims on UFC Fight Pass), believes he’s just a couple of wins away from becoming a viable contender for the title in the deep 135-pound weight class.

Currently bantamweight champ Cody Garbrandt is lined up for a title defense against T.J. Dillashaw at UFC 217 on Nov. 4. After that, the winner of December’s UFC 218 matchup between former titleholder Dominick Cruz and the streaking Jimmie Rivera is likely next in line. “The Funkmaster” thinks he’s right behind those names, though, and if he can beat Yahya and then take out another notable name, he said it would be tough to deny him a crack at the gold.

“I think two more,” Sterling told MMAjunkie of his path to a title shot. “This one, and I think I fight one more in 2018, and I think that should be the No. 1 contender fight. I think just the landscape of everything, with (Raphael) Assuncao fighting Matt Lopez, the winner of that is going to be one step closer. Really, I don’t think they want Assuncao to fight for the belt. He split decisions everybody. (Bryan) Caraway, that guy doesn’t fight. He’s finally fighting on the same card as me. Then you have Cruz vs. Rivera, the winner will get the next title shot, that’ll be in 2018.

“After that we’ll see how that shakes out. John Dodson, if he gets another win, that could be an interesting fight for me. This next one, I have to get a win, I’ve got to get a finish, and I think I go out there and fight one more in 2018. I go out there and solidify the next shot at the belt.”

Sterling, No. 12 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA bantamweight rankings, has a realistic understanding of the division. He knows it all comes down to the timing of matchmaking and who is a viable contender at a given time. Right now he’s simply not in that position.

Although he’s coming off a unanimous-decision win over former UFC champion Renan Barao at UFC 214 in July, Sterling recognizes he’s currently short on momentum. The performance against Barao snapped a two-fight losing skid and got Sterling back on track after a rough patch in his career.

Sterling said he’s happy to have momentum on his side again, but it’s not the type of momentum he wants to bring into a championship fight. He wants to make sure he’s firing on all cylinders when he challenges for the gold, and that means stringing together consecutive wins against elite competition.

“I don’t think it’s the right time (to fight for the title),” Sterling said. “I think I need one more fight. I think I go in there with a three-fight win-streak, a four-fight win-streak. That makes it a more appealing fight for the masses to want to watch. Nobody wants to see a guy coming in off one or two wins and fighting for the title. Maybe, unless you’re a Conor McGregor or someone like a polarizing figure like a Ronda Rousey. If she came back she could immediately fight for a title. I’m in a different space right now. I’m still building my brand, building my career. Wins matter, especially in my weight class. I want to bring something to the table where I bring in some solid momentum.”

Sterling hopes a victory over Yahya at UFC Fight Night 123 will move him closer to his desired position. The fight pits two of the best grapplers in the bantamweight division against one another, and if the action hits the mat, viewers could be in for a treat.

There’s plenty to respect about Yahya, who has made 20 UFC/WEC appearances dating back to June 2007. Sterling said he holds the Brazilian in high regard, but believes he has the advantage if the fight hits the floor. Sterling views Yahya’s grappling style as “basic” and “traditional,” and said if the fight ends up on the mat, his more dynamic approach is going to make the difference.

“He’s definitely an elite-level grappler, but which one of these grapplers is doing the stuff I’m doing?” Sterling said. “Who is going for inverted triangles off their back? Who is going for banana splits? Who is doing stuff like that? No one is doing that kind of thing. I don’t think these guys have shown their versatility in their grappling arsenal as I have. A lot of these grapplers are high-level, but it’s very basic, very traditional.

“I don’t know what Rani Yahya has for me except traditional grappling. He doesn’t have anything unorthodox. I’m willing to go out there and throw a flying triangle. Is he willing to do some (expletive)’ like that? I have no idea. But I’m willing to do some crazy stuff.”

For more on UFC Fight Night 123, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.