Petr Yan’s American coach of the Top Team, Marcos DaMatta, is a little surprised by Aljamain Sterling’s memory of what also takes place at UFC 259.
Sterling claimed the UFC looseweight title from Yan last Saturday after Yan was disqualified for putting a clear illegal knee on his head in the fourth round of their match. The disqualification was decided after Sterling told the referee and doctor on the side of the house that he could not continue.
Sterling became the first fighter in UFC history to win a title by way of DQ. Fans and fighters have strongly criticized the internet claiming that Sterling falsified the effect of the knee.
Sterling backtracked on the critics on his own podcast, saying he did not want to win as he did, and also shared some details about his state of mind during the incident.
“I do remember asking, ‘How much time do I have? “Because I wanted to keep going,” Sterling said. “Right now I’m thinking quite a few things in my head: Dana (White’s) is not giving me another chance at the title, the fight is going to be a match, and Dana is going to say, ‘He was losing us the fight in the fourth round, so why should we use him again? We already know in which direction the fight is headed, and we will continue from here. ‘Then I, I’ll never get the chance again. I will have to win three or four more fights to get back in this position for a world title. ”
Coach DaMatta questions Sterling’s recollection of the illegal knee, as he finds it hard to believe that a fighter who has been harmed by the shot can think of all the things Sterling has mentioned.
“Wait a minute. If you’ve had a concussion, if you can not keep fighting, do you really think about all the inside of the cage?” DaMatta said. “I mean, it got me confused. I know. not whether Aljo thought it all in the cage when he was still down, or that he was thinking about it now.Again I respect Aljo and his coaches.I went to his corner and apologized because I know Petr a “made a mistake, and I do not deny it. But hold on, what’s the truth? Did you really think it inside the cage or after? I do not know. It means that we will discuss the second chance soon.”
DaMatta would not say somehow if Sterling had falsified the effect of the knee and said that Sterling is the only one who will ever know. The ATT coach wants the rematch to be discussed as soon as possible and finds it ridiculous that Sterling has suggested a fight with retired former champion Henry Cejudo on Twitter.
‘I saw the Cejudo thing. This is insane, ”said DaMatta. ‘The struggle to play now is the second chance. Cejudo, Sandhagen and all have to wait. The real fight to make now is the second chance, and hopefully it will be in May.
‘I hope the UFC discusses this fight quickly. Even Aljo said he did not want to be such a champion. Nobody wants that. Petr actually admitted the mistake. He apologizes. He knows he made a mistake. He apologized to Aljo and his coach and everyone, but the truth is that we want the rematch as soon as possible.
Dana said Aljo was released to go. Aljo said he wants the second chance. Petr said he wants the chance, so I do not know if there is a hold, hopefully not. Maybe last May or June. I believe May will be a perfect timeline. ”