Aljamain Sterling has been recovering from UFC 280 clash against the injured TJ DIllashaw. Sterling isn’t in a rush to get back into camp considering he told the whole 135-pound division that they will have to wait until the middle of 2023 to compete for the title.
” You know how intense those training camps are, especially mine, because I go hard in the paint. Henry, you should know exactly what I’m talking about. You’ve been through these five run, but you’ve been on the sidelines for two and a half years.”
“So I have no problem fighting you, Henry. I just want the biggest fight. And if that’s you, then step up to the plate. If you want to wait for your boy, you can wait. If not, we’ll take another fight and kick rocks. Chito, Sandhagen, Sean O’Malley, whatever. Any one of you guys, man. If you want to wait for me, give me some time to let my body heal.”
Sterling claims that training camps for 5-round event are extremely strenuous. He wants to give his body some time to recover.
“Most times a champion — go back and look through history — most times a champion usually fights one time a year, if they’re lucky. Two times is ideal, which I already did, and if I want to take a break, I think I earned that break.” he claimed.
However, as fans attempted to verify Sterling’s assertions, more than a few eyebrows were raised. A supporter dissected and investigated the title defenses of active champions.
Figueiredo defended his belt once every 68 days .Volkanovksi averages a fight every 181 days. Charles Oliveira defended against Poirier, Gaethje, and Makhachev in well under a year. Usman defended three times in 2021. Adesanya competed three times just in 2022 with 4th title bout scheduled for November
H/t to the excellent m_desjardins00 who compiled the info on twitter.