Merab Dvalishvili, UFC 311 kickoff press convention Credit score: Gabriel Gonzalez/Cageside Press
UFC featherweight Aljamain Sterling, and teammate of bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, is frightened that his pal acquired rushed right into a title protection in opposition to the harmful Umar Nurmagomedov too quickly after successful the belt.
“Let’s be honest. This fight’s getting made on 6 weeks notice I think? Maybe 6-and-a-half? For a title fight? I understand having to do that if you’re a challenger,” Sterling advised Ariel Helwani on Tuesday.
“As a champion you shouldn’t be relegated to those types of stipulations. It’s just not right.”
Dvalishvili (18-4) defeated Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 by unanimous determination in the primary occasion. UFC 306, also called Noche UFC, was in September. UFC 311 takes place on Jan 18 which is about 6 weeks from when the struggle was agreed to.
“Then it leaves a bad taste in your mouth as in why did I work so hard to get to this position to call the shots, or some of the shots, and you’re not even getting a fair shake in it,” he mentioned.
Finish of the day Sterling is aware of the UFC will push to do what they need to do. It’s as much as the fighters to say sure or no.
“They’re going to do what they want to do. They’re going to press the buttons that they want in the sense of trying to get the fights that they want made when they want it. It’s not like Merab doesn’t want to fight Umar. It was all about the time table,” Sterling mentioned.
“Hopefully we go out there, knock on wood, Merab does his thing. He takes his 0, puts on a great performance, and we can move on from this. Onto the next.”
