Aljamain Sterling will tell you that, yes, his initial take on Australia’s No. 1 fighter was off.
But as for still having a crack at his title?
Absolutely, he wants that.
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Speaking with Fox Sports Australia on the eve of his latest title showdown, UFC bantamweight champ Sterling has revealed he no longer believes in the polarising tweet he posted about Australia’s Alexander Volkanovski last July.
This Sunday at UFC 288, Sterling will look to again defend his title against former ‘champ champ’ Henry Cejudo, who makes his hyped return to the Octagon after three years away.
Regardless of who walks away with the belt too, both men are looking to use a win this weekend to then catapult them into a blockbuster with Volkanovski in 2024.
For Cejudo, the fight would represent his shot at a staggering third division title, while Sterling has long believed himself capable of earning ‘champ champ’ status against that fighter from Down Under dubbed The Great.
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Only last year, the New Yorker even took to a social media swipe at Volkanovski after watching him again defend against Max Holloway in their UFC 276 trilogy.
Taking to Twitter after the fight, Sterling wrote: “My honest opinion … I think I’d take Volkanovski down pretty easily and submit him”.
Now almost a year on however, and having watched Volk almost claim ‘champ champ’ status himself against Islam Makhachev, Sterling sees things differently.
Asked about the tweet this week, he laughed: “The Islam fight showed me that takedown, it might be a lot harder than I thought”.
Regardless though, should Sterling defend against a returning Cejudo at UFC 288, he then wants a shot at Volkanovski some time in 2024.
In fact, the American hinted he may even be a more dangerous prospect at featherweight, insisting he currently “leaves a little behind” with every weight cut.
“So I don’t see why not,” Sterling said when asked about moving up to take a shot at Volkanovski.
“Bantamweight is a tough weight cut for me.
“And even though I do get down here, I do make it, I feel like I leave a little behind.
“And that’s why some of my best showings are in the (practice) room compared to the fight itself.
“So who knows? That could be the next step in my career.
“And why not test myself?
“I’m getting older so why not take some risks?
“I know when you’re investing, they say take all the risks while you’re young and then when you get older you can be a little more conservative.
“But this door isn’t going to be open forever.
“So I want to take the opportunities when they’re presented.”
While taking Volkanovski down may not be so easy as he predicted a year back, Sterling still insists he has the game to get it done.
“I think my tenacity, and how I shoot, that could be very problematic for Volkanovski,” he said.
“Mess up his tempo and timing.”
Yet one man who says Sterling would have a tough time with the Australian is respected UFC analyst Dan Hardy.
“I think he struggles against Volkanovski,” Hardy told Submission Radio this week.
“I think Volkanovski’s movement and power would be able to shut him down.
“You know, the deficits that Henry Cejudo might struggle with against Sterling (this weekend), I don’t think Volkanovski would struggle with.
“I’m sure he (Volkanovski) is gonna give up height. But what is it?
“Maybe three inches in height. But I don’t think he’s gonna give up any reach.
“I think there’s most likely going to be a – if not even, you know, maybe an inch advantage for Volkanovski. He’s got quite long arms if I remember right.
“But I don’t know, I just feel Volkanovski, he’s kind of found that groove in his career where he knows what he does well.”
Volkanovski, meanwhile, took to his own YouTube channel this week to predict a Cejudo victory at UFC 288.
“Henry Cejudo obviously has a lot more tools than Aljamain, especially on the feet,” Volkanovski said.
“I think he’s going to be a lot more dangerous on the feet.
“He can finish Aljamain, got good distance control, he understands distance, he can use all his tools on the feet as well.
“Aljamain’s gotta really want to backpack him like he always does.
“Against an Olympic wrestler it’s going to be hard, but can he get to the back? If he finds himself on Henry Cejudo’s back, that’s a different story. All that wrestling and everything goes out the window.
“It’s a totally different ball game so in them scrambles if he’s able to wrap up the back that could be a big problem for Henry Cejudo.
“So I’m not counting out Aljamain. I think Aljamain can definitely hang in there with him, with the scrambles and that, and maybe threaten him with back control or something like that.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what happens there.
“Again, on the feet, I’m all Henry Cejudo.
“But I believe his (Sterling’s) best bet is if Henry shoots on him and then maybe catching the neck or jump onto the back.”
