Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling recently revealed his complicated history with gambling during an appearance on “The Helwani Show,” explaining why he avoids the temptations of Las Vegas despite enjoying the city.
“I don’t gamble,” Sterling stated firmly. “I was worried about that because I did have a bad gambling problem when I was in college as a freshman.”
The fighter disclosed that he mismanaged his financial aid during his college years, spending substantial sums on casino games rather than necessities.
“I spend up a lot of money, Ariel, with my refund checks,” Sterling admitted, specifying that his gambling preferences were table games like “Sickbow, roulette, blackjack” rather than sports betting.
When asked about his aversion to sports wagering, Sterling offered thoughtful insight: “I was never good at sports betting because what are you betting on? Like, emotions of an athlete? The cards don’t have emotions. The dice don’t have emotions.”
He elaborated on the unpredictable variables in sports: “Someone could have an off day. They may be arguing with their wife or something crazy. You just never know, for you to bet on that, just on the stats alone. Sometimes the stats don’t actually give you the whole picture of what people are going through going into a game or a fight.”
The financial consequences were significant for Sterling as a student. He estimates losing approximately $3,000-$4,000—money intended to cover his semester expenses.
“That was like my money for the semester,” he explained. “I maxed out on my refund check. Being that we had so many siblings, we were able to get the maxed capacity for FAFSA and Pell, the Pell Grant and all the other stuff.”
The situation forced Sterling to become financially independent. “I wasn’t asking my parents for money and whatnot. I already knew it was hard back on,” he reflected.
This financial crisis became a turning point, prompting Sterling to develop entrepreneurial skills. “Once I realized, like, one I’m going to have to pay this back, two, I’m about to be broke—that’s when I started cutting hair for money.”
Despite his past struggles, Sterling maintains a positive outlook on life and career, emphasizing the importance of purpose: “I always want to have something that I’m working towards, and this has been a fun ride.”
