Aljamain Sterling, the former UFC bantamweight champion, has recently made a compelling case for himself in the pursuit of a rematch against Sean O'Malley. After successfully defending his bantamweight title three times, Sterling ultimately lost to Sean O’Malley, leaving him hungry for redemption.
Similarly, Israel Adesanya, another former champion, suffered an unexpected defeat at the hands of Sean Strickland during UFC 293. Notably, Strickland had stepped in as a replacement after Dricus Du Plessis withdrew due to injury.
Aljamain Sterling is now actively advocating for a rematch against O’Malley for the bantamweight title, following his loss to "Suga" at UFC 292. However, neither the UFC nor O’Malley himself have acknowledged Sterling's requests. Undeterred, "The Funk Master" continues to champion his cause even after UFC 293.
Sterling's argument is rooted in the concept of fairness and equal treatment for UFC champions. He believes that if former champions like Israel Adesanya are granted immediate title rematches after a loss, he too should be given the same opportunity. Sterling points out that he held the bantamweight title for the longest duration in terms of successful defenses, solidifying his claim for an immediate rematch.
Sterling also raises concerns about Israel Adesanya's rematch against Sean Strickland. Adesanya had already secured an immediate rematch when he lost the middleweight title to Alex Periera at UFC 281, which he later reclaimed at UFC 287.
During UFC 293, Adesanya faced a masterclass performance from Strickland, who had the advantage of crowd support in Sydney, Australia. The victory for Strickland left many MMA fans calling for an immediate rematch. While UFC President Dana White has expressed interest in arranging a rematch for Adesanya, he has been hesitant to extend the same opportunity to Sterling.
The former bantamweight champion is critical of this unequal treatment. Sterling believes that Adesanya's popularity in the global MMA scene has played a significant role in White's push for a rematch.
As Aljamain Sterling continues to advocate for his cause, it remains to be seen if the UFC and Sean O'Malley will acknowledge his requests for a rematch. The bantamweight division eagerly awaits the resolution of this dispute, as Sterling isn't ready to give up and wants a fair shot at getting the title back.
