Aljamain Sterling wasn’t fond of Cory Sandhagen’s performance at UFC on ESPN 50.
Sandhagen (17-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) put on a grappling clinic en route to a dominant decision win over Rob Font (20-7 MMA, 10-6 UFC) this past Saturday at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.
Sandhagen, who suffered a quick submission loss to Sterling in June 2020, was in firm control throughout the fight, but UFC bantamweight champion Sterling thinks he could have done more.
“Honestly, respectfully, it was a sh*t fight,” Sterling told ESPN. “Cory did what he had to do to win, so I respect that. Font definitely needs to pick up on his grappling to escape, give up your back, go to all fours, something. You can’t just sit down on your back and kind of just lay there hoping for a submission. It doesn’t work like that – not at this level. I think that kind of showed myself and Merab (Dvalishvili) that there’s levels to this. There’s a reason why we’re at the top.”
Although he revealed he injured his tricep in the fight, Sandhagen called for a title shot after defeating Font. But Sterling doesn’t see this win propelling him a step further in his title pursuit.
“I think he stays right where he is,” Sterling said. “Unfortunately, injury is part of sport. I can’t take anything away from him. Obviously tearing a tricep is a big thing. I’ve torn my bicep before. I’ve got a partially torn one, also. I know what it’s like to deal with injuries in a fight.
“I just think he could have done a little bit more on top. Your tricep doesn’t stop you from dropping elbows. It doesn’t stop you from punching. There’s levels to this, and respect to him for implementing grappling now to his arsenal – but there’s levels.”
Sterling defends his title against Sean O’Malley in the UFC 292 main event on Aug. 19 at TD Garden in Boston. “The Funkmaster” hinted on several occasions that his days at 135 pounds are numbered, suggesting that Sandhagen could get his desired title shot after all – but not against him.
“You’ve got a guy in Merab who’s right there, as well,” Sterling said. “Maybe they’ll be fighting for the vacant title.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 50.
