Aljamain Sterling is still on a high from rebounding from neck surgery to retain his bantamweight title. However, back in 2015, when Sterling was still undefeated and rising up the bantamweight ranks, he attended UFC 187 to support his teammate Chris Weidman.
At the time, Weidman was a then-undefeated middleweight champ, and he extended his winning streak with a first-round TKO win over former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort.
Sterling went to a pool party with his then-girlfriend and now-fiancée, Rebecca Cruz, at the Palms Hotel & Casino during the time and ran into Las Vegas boxing legend Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr.
Minnions
“He sent over his minions to try to pick her up,” Sterling said on the “Spinning Back Fist” podcast. “This is back like in 2016, I think. It was definitely after Weidman fought Vitor Belfort but I was still undefeated at the time. So he sent over a girl. No, I think he sent over a guy first. Told us like, ‘Yeah we can both come down.’ Man, I ain’t stupid like that.
“Like we come over, you guys will try to take her off and try to push me back and then I’m gonna feel like, ‘Nah, I’ve gotta create a scene,’ ’cause you ain’t gonna punk me like that,” Sterling hypothesized.
Aljamain Sterling is one of the most polarizing champions in UFC history. He won his title due to a fourth-round disqualification blow from Petr Yan back on March 6, 2021, at UFC 259. However, he redeemed his abilities when he defeated Yan again via split decision at UFC 273.
Unintentional Champ
Still, many do not want to see Sterling as a legitimate champion. Sterling’s championship tenure has been uniquely toxic between the racial undertones and his permanent underdog status. However, his confidence never lacks, and even back when he was considered a UFC wunderkind, he was ready for all challenges, even of the TBE category.
“He left and came back with a girl, and the girl was like, “Yeah, no, really, he said you guys both can come down.’ And I was like, ‘Listen, I know how this scene, this movie goes. You can tell Floyd he’s undefeated in boxing, and I’m undefeated in MMA. If he wants to figure out what’s the better sport, we can find out today,'” said Sterling.
The UFC champ now has a massive target on his back in mixed martial arts. Since he has defeated Yan in a five-round fight, the win has elicited challengers who want to test themselves againt him.
Return Of The Cringe
Former UFC double champ Henry Cejudo inserted himself into the conversation first.
I’m coming back for these tomato cans and I’m going to right the wrong! Aljolame you the number one contender Bitch @funkmasterMMA @danawhite https://t.co/uyCaRMXDMf
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) April 23, 2022
“I’m coming back for these tomato cans and I’m going to right the wrong! Aljolame you the number one contender B-tch,” Cejudo tweeted.
His manager posted a picture of Cejudo and UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby and executive Hunter Campbell, indicating that conversations are escalating for his return. Cejudo retired back in 2020 after defending the bantamweight championship over Dominick Cruz at UFC 249.
The good news for Sterling IS if he isn’t afraid of Mayweather he assuredly will accept a challenge from Cejudo.
