On a night in which bantamweight contenders jockeyed for position to make their case in the race for a bantamweight title shot, Aljamain Sterling wasted little time stating his own.
Fighting in a UFC 250 main-card bout that UFC president Dana White hinted would be a title eliminator, Sterling (19-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC) made short work of Cory Sandhagen.
The Long Island-based competitor blitzed Sandhagen (12-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC), dominating from the jump before winning by rear-naked choke. The time of the stoppage was 1:28 of the opening round, as Sterling won his fourth consecutive fight.
“I got no words for this right now,” Sterling said. “The world is in shambles right now, there is a lot going on, especially in this country. … This is for everyone fighting the good fight back home, protesting.”
Sterling wasted little time in taking a standing Sandhagen’s back. He brought Sandhagen to the ground and nearly finished things with his first rear-naked choke attempt, but Sandhagen escaped. Twice more Sterling applied the choke, and Sandhagen did his best to escape, but a tight body lock limited his options. The third time around, Sandhagen tapped just as he was going out.
A fight between Jose Aldo and Petr Yan for the belt vacated by former champion Henry Cejudo is expected. Sterling aimed his target at Yan, with whom he has exchanged words.
“I’m tired of all this hype (expletive). Everyone says Petr Yan is the guy,” Sterling said. “You better win your fight, because I’m coming for that ass.”
The bantamweight bout was part of the UFC 250 main card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. It aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN/ESPN+ and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.
Up-to-the-minute UFC 250 results include:
- Aljamain Sterling def. Cory Sandhagen via submission (rear-naked choke) — Round 1, 1:28
- Neil Magny def. Anthony Rocco Martin via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
- Sean O’Malley def. Eddie Wineland via KO (punch) — Round 1, 1:54
- Alex Caceres def. Chase Hooper via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Ian Heinisch def. Gerald Meerschaert via TKO (punches) — Round 1, 1:14
- Cody Stamann def. Brian Kelleher via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Maki Pitolo def. Charles Byrd via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:10
- Alex Perez def. Jussier Formiga via TKO (leg kicks) – Round 1, 4:06
- Devin Clark def. Alonzo Menifield via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Herbert Burns def. Evan Dunham via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 1:20
