American fighter Aljamain Sterling says he will pull no punches against his Russian rival
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC © Getty Images
UFC champion Aljamain Sterling has promised to show off a brand new box of tricks when he attempts to defend his crown against former titleholder Petr Yan in Jacksonville, Florida next weekend – including the now infamous Will Smith slap.
Sterling and his Russian foe Yan are set to rematch more than a year removed from their highly controversial first fight which was won by the American after Yan was disqualified for landing a blatantly illegal knee strike to Sterling’s head in the fourth round.
At the time of the DQ Yan was leading on the scorecards of all three judges, with Sterling looking exhausted in the cage as Yan pressed forward looking for a finish – but the illegal blow ended any hopes Yan had of claiming a win, and led to him forfeiting his 135lbs title in the process.
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Yan was initially apologetic but later claimed that Sterling was looking for an early exit from the fight after tasting the former champ’s power – and even claimed that Sterling should win an Academy Award for his in-cage theatrics.
But speaking ahead of the fight, Sterling says that he will borrow a trick from another Oscar winner when the two warring bantamweights come face-to-face in the Sunshine State late next Saturday night.
“When they lock that door he’s gonna get ‘Will Smith’d.’ I can tell you that. He’s gonna get Will Smith’d,“ Sterling said to TMZ.
“And, after that, it’s gonna be a lot worse than what Will did to Chris Rock. It’s gonna be a beatdown.“
The bookmakers have Yan as a heavy favorite heading into the fight but Sterling – who hasn’t fought in the 13 months after his first tussle with Yan – says that he has spent time recovering from niggling injuries and sharpening his already impressive skillset, and is eager to show off his new firepower.
“I am a certified weapon right now, and ready for battle, and I can’t wait to go out there and unleash these tools, and put a little beatdown on this guy that he’s been deserving for well over a year at this point, and move on to the victim,“ he said.
“I know the Vegas oddsmakers got me as a big underdog. This is what everyone wants to go out of their way to tell me. I don’t give a s***, at the end of the day, I bet on me. And, I know that betting on me is right. I bet on me the last 6 times and I’ve won every single time.”
And as soon as that first bell rings in Florida, Sterling says that Yan will be aware that he has bitten off more than he can chew.
“He’s gonna feel a pressure like he’s never felt before, and this time when I take him down, he ain’t getting up,“ he vowed.
