[autotag]Aljamain Sterling[/autotag] has closed the door on bantamweight ahead of his chance in divisions for UFC 300.
Sterling (23-4 MMA, 15-4 UFC), the most successful champion in the history of UFC’s 135-pound weight class, revealed he’s done fighting in division that’s been home for the entirety of his MMA career.
The declaration comes after Sterling lost UFC gold to Sean O’Malley at UFC 292 in August, and now has a featherweight fight booked against Calvin Kattar (23-7 MMA, 7-5 UFC) on the April 13 card at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
“Safe to say (I’m done at bantamweight),” Sterling told MMA Junkie. “One of my managers was asking about that, about going down to 135, and I said, ‘Brother, let’s stop this conversation right here.’
“There’s no more 135. I didn’t even want to do it the last time. Whatever, I’m not going to bring it up again because people are going to say I’m making excuses, but this is all factual, but 135 is done.”
Sterling, 34, believes the additional 10 pounds on his frame will provide a second wind to his fighting career given that he’s not depleting himself cutting so much weight. Sterling sees his 145-pound debut at UFC 300 as a new beginning, and aspires to duplicate his success.
“I’m excited to get back,” Sterling said. “I think that’s the most important thing. I want the fans to know I’m excited to get back, and I’m going to have new life, new energy at this weight class.
“I’m definitely nervous because I’m used to being the bigger guy even though I don’t get that big when I rehydrate at 135, but I think I left some stuff in the gym cutting down to 135, so I’d like to see what I can do at 145, and I’m going to shock the world.”
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