“Play the long game”, Aljamain Sterling offers IMPORTANT advice to Marlon Vera on combating Sean O’Malley at UFC 299

Aljamain Sterling suggests a patient, strategic approach to Marlon Vera for his title fight against Sean O'Malley at UFC 299, focusing on endurance and tactical advantage.

“Play the long game”, Aljamain Sterling offers IMPORTANT advice to Marlon Vera on combating Sean O’Malley at UFC 299

Aljamain Sterling previews Marlon Vera vs Sean O'Malley (Image via: IMAGO)

Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling recently spoke with MMA Junkie’s Farah Hannoun. In the interview, Sterling discussed his featherweight debut and also the landscape of the bantamweight and featherweight divisions. Sterling also previewed the bantamweight title fight between Sean O’Malley and Marlon Vera at UFC 299.

Sterling lost the title to O’Malley at UFC 292 and thus has inside information about the current bantamweight champion. This is the advice that Sterling gave Marlon Vera on the MMA Junkie interview with Hannoun.

If I'm Chito(Marlon Vera), I'm playing the long game this time. I'm having my coaches remind me, "Play the long game, play the long game." Let's make him exert as much energy as we can, try to take as little damage as we can, try to damage him where we can, take the free kicks that we can, slow him down, and eventually, we get him in the later rounds, rounds four and five.
Aljamain Sterling via MMA Junkie
YouTube video

Sterling lost to O’Malley via second-round TKO. With title defenses over Petr Yan, TJ Dillashaw, and Henry Cejudo, Sterling is one of the arguable GOATs of the bantamweight division. The victory over Sterling pushed O’Malley to superstardom.

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Sterling has now left the bantamweight division. He will fight Calvin Kattar in the featherweight division at UFC 299. Kattar occupies the 7th rank in the featherweight division. As such, Sterling stated that a finish over Kattar could land him a featherweight title shot.

Related: “You won’t do sh*t” – Sean O’Malley warns Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera about knockout after the contender threatens to make the champion ‘quit’

Aljamain Sterling previews Henry Cejudo vs Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 298

Aljamain Sterling’s last title defense was at UFC 288 against Henry Cejudo. In a back-and-forth fight, Sterling edged out a split decision. Now, Sterling’s close friend Merab Dvalishvili will take on Cejudo at UFC 298 in Anaheim, headlined by Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria.

Henry Cejudo and Merab Dvalishvili
Henry Cejudo and Merab Dvalishvili (Image via Bloody Elbow/MMA Fighting)

In his recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Farah Hannoun, Sterling previewed Cejudo vs Dvalishvili. He believes Dvalishvili can beat Cejudo anywhere, even if the fight were to go to the ground.

Dvalishvili currently has the longest active win streak in the division. Nicknamed “The Machine,” Dvalishvili has one of the best cardio in the UFC and it made him a tough outing for opponents. On the other hand, Cejudo utilizes his wrestling and power coupled with his distance game to knock out opponents. Fans highly anticipate the matchup between Dvalishvili and Cejudo.

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