Petr Yan’s coach, Marcos DaMatta, wonders how Aljamain Sterling could have so many thoughts if he was truly concussed and out of it.
[autotag]Petr Yan[/autotag]’s American Top Team coach, Marcos DaMatta, is a bit puzzled by Aljamain Sterling’s recollection of what took place at UFC 259.
Sterling claimed the UFC bantamweight title from Yan this past Saturday after Yan was disqualified for landing a clear illegal knee to the head in the fourth round of their bout. The disqualification was ruled after Sterling told the referee and cageside doctor that he was unable to continue.
Sterling became the first fighter in UFC history to win a title by way of DQ. He’s been heavily criticized online by fans and fighters who allege that Sterling was faking the effect of the knee.
Sterling fired back at the critics on his own podcast, saying he didn’t want to win the way he did and also shared a few more details on his state of mind during the incident.
“I do remember asking, ‘How much time do I have?’ Because I wanted to continue,” Sterling said. “In this moment, I’m thinking a whole bunch of things in my head: Dana (White’s) not going to give me another shot at the title, the fight’s going to be a no contest, Dana’s going to say, ‘He was losing that fight in the fourth round, so why should we use him again? We already know the direction the fight was heading, so we’re going to move on from this.’ Then me, I’m never going to get the opportunity again. I’m going to have to win three or four more fights to get back in this position for a world title again.”
Coach DaMatta questions Sterling’s recollection of the illegal knee, as he finds it hard to believe that a fighter who’s impaired from the shot could think of all the things Sterling mentioned.
“Wait a second. If you have a concussion, if you’re not able to continue to fight, are you really thinking about all that inside of the cage?” DaMatta said. “I mean, that got me confused. I don’t know if Aljo was thinking all of that inside of the cage when he was still down or he was thinking of that now. Again, I respect Aljo and his coaches. I went to his corner and apologized because I know Petr made a mistake, and I’m not denying that. But hold on, what’s the truth? Did you really think all of that inside the cage or afterwards? I don’t know. It all comes down to let’s book the rematch soon.”
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DaMatta would not say one way or the other if Sterling was faking the effect of the knee and said Sterling is the only one that will ever know. The ATT coach wants the rematch to be booked as soon as possible and finds it ridiculous that Sterling suggested a fight with retired former champion Henry Cejudo on Twitter.
“I saw the Cejudo thing. That’s insane,” DaMatta said. “The fight to make right now is the rematch. Cejudo, Sandhagen and everybody else have to wait. The right fight to make right now is the rematch, and hopefully it’s going to be in May.
“I hope that UFC books this fight quickly. Even Aljo said that he doesn’t want to be champion like this. Nobody wants this. Petr actually acknowledged the mistake. He apologized. He knows he made a mistake. He apologized to Aljo and his coach and everybody, but the truth is that we want the rematch ASAP.
“Dana said that Aljo was cleared to go. Aljo said he wants the rematch. Petr said he wants the rematch, so I don’t know if there’s going to be any hold up, hopefully not. Maybe May or June the latest. I believe May will be perfect a timeline.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZxF-phlNPQ&t=3s
