Aljamain Sterling Move to featherweight is permanent

Former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling will make his featherweight debut against seventh-ranked Calvin Kattar on the historic UFC 300 fight card.  Coming off a loss to Sean O’Malley, Sterling is looking for a new start in a new division.  

Sterling has a grappling match lined up against Chase Hopper at ADXC 2 in Abu Dhabi on Jan. 19 and a fight signed against Kattar at UFC 300 in April in Las Vegas.  He likes to stay busy.  

“I’m not getting any younger, that’s one, and I like to compete,” Sterling told MMAJunkie about his active schedule.  “I think people had me a little bit misunderstood.  There was one year where I had five fights in a year.  I just tried to bang out as many things that I could do as long as I’m healthy.  As I got older I got a little bit injury prone with all the setbacks.  I want to make as much money as I can, be as active as I can.  Now that I’m not going to be cutting as much weight, it makes it so much easier for me to get back out there.”

Sterling’s move to the 145-pound division isn’t a one off deal.  He expects the move to be permanent.  

“I’m excited to get back.  I think that’s the most important thing.  The most important point for me is I want the fans to know I’m excited to get back, and I think I’m going to have new live, new energy at this weight class,” said Sterling.  

“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.  I’d like to see what I can do at 145, and I think that I’m going to shock the world… There’s no more 135.  I didn’t even want to do it the last time… 135 is done.”