“I don’t think you should strip someone for having a legit injury,” Cory Sandhagen defends Aljamain Sterling ahead of UFC 267
Cory Sandhagen and Aljamain Sterling
The UFC Bantamweight champion, Aljamain Sterling stepped out from his rematch against Petr Yan due to lingering health issues. Sterling didn’t get clearance from UFC doctors to compete at UFC 267 and the fans are suggesting to strip his title over social media.
Meanwhile, the promotion booked an interim title fight between former UFC Bantamweight champion, Petr Yan and third-ranked UFC Bantamweight fighter, Cory Sandhagen.
Sandhagen is coming into this fight with a loss against former UFC Bantamweight champion, T.J. Dillashaw and he doesn’t believe Aljamain Sterling should be stripped from his title as long as he doesn’t take much time to compete again.
In his latest interview with Ariel Helwani for MMA Fighting, Sandhagen says, “No, not really, man. With the way that it went, you know, I think that would be-it depends on how long he really has to be out for. I think it would be kind of a bad way to strip someone,”
“For one, he got a really flagrant foul on him in his last fight. Also, man, the guy is actually injured. The guy had actual neck surgery, so I don’t think you should strip someone for getting flagrantly fouled or for having a legit injury.” {H/T Lowkick MMA}
Cory Sandhagen added that Aljamain Sterling should be given nine months of time for fighting again
Ariel Helwani further asked Cory Sandhagen that what is going to be the ideal time that should be given to Aljamain Sterling for fighting back again before stripping his title, Sandhagen says,
“I don’t know. Nine months sounds good. I think if you’re not fighting within nine months, yeah, I think you should get stripped. I think a year is a really long time to keep people waiting.”
“You don’t get a ton of fights; you don’t get a ton of time in this sport, especially in your prime. I think making someone wait a year is kind of a long time,”
Shivansh Thakur
(1173 Articles Published)