Current UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling has made a surprising declaration on social media that he may be willing to move up to featherweight in the near future in order to allow his long-time teammate Merab Dvalishvili to fight for the belt.
The 32-year-old Sterling made the claim after being asked about the possibility of him fighting Dvalishvili, who is currently riding a seven-fight winning streak in the division that’s taken him to the No.6 sport on the 135lb ladder.
“After Merab’s next win, I will probably have to move up, to allow him his chance that he earned, to make history for Georgia to win a world title,” Sterling wrote. “We will figure it out.”
Sterling is also on a seven-fight unbeaten stretch and only recently successfully defended his title for the first time in a rematch with previous champion Petr Yan, beating him by split decision.
As things stand the ‘Funk Master’ doesn’t yet have a confirmed opponent for his next fight, although there has been talk that he may fight No.2 ranked former champion TJ Dillashaw who is still recovering from a knee surgery last year, although he has also signalled an interest in fighting other leading contenders like the No.3 placed Jose Aldo instead.
