The main card of UFC Fight Night 128 in Atlantic city featured a pivotal bantamweight matchup as division’s staple #8 ranked contender Aljamain ‘Funkmaster’ Sterling took on #14 ranked upcoming prospect Brett ‘the Pikey’ Johns.
Johns came into the fight undefeated and had the intention of adding Sterling’s name to the list. However, Sterling managed to give Johns the first defeat of his professional career via unanimous decision. Sterling therefore got himself back to winning ways after a quick knockout loss against former WSOF bantamweight champion Marlon Moraes.

Sterling wasted no time in calling out the former bantamweight champion and the #2 ranked contender Dominick ‘the Dominator’ Cruz with the classic line of idols becoming rivals. In a recent tweet, Sterling is pushing for the fight and has given Cruz four dates to choose from. (via Twitter):
Hey @DominickCruz, you wanna meet up inside the octagon? Since you have seniority, you can pick the date big dawg!#July6, #July7, #July28, or #Aug4?
Sincerely,#TheBestGrapplerInTheDivision! pic.twitter.com/qUUNoaxSnD
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) April 26, 2018
Sterling explained his call out of Cruz in a recent interview with MMA Junkie.
“I think it’s the right time,” Steling said. “I see him sitting there behind the desk. I don’t think he wants to fight anybody unless it’s for the belt, but I think this is a fight where he thinks it might not be a dangerous fight for him in terms of being knocked out or something like that. So I think he’d be more willing to oblige to a matchup like this.
“And I think if there’s a big name I can take out, why not shoot for the stars and see what we can get? I think everyone else is booked up, and I beat him, I’m right here for the title shot.”
Sterling definitely feels good and had a message for his haters.
“I was just glad I was about to open up a lot more with the hands and have some fun exchanges for the fans, and I got to win those exchanges too,” he said. “That’s what this sh-t is all about, man. I had a good time out there. I had some fun.
“And I let the haters know: We’re back, baby.”
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