Aljamain Sterling reveals he has parted ways with his management team

UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling
UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling

Reigning UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling has revealed that he has cut ties with his management team. Taking to his YouTube channel, Sterling recalled trying out multiple management companies over the years.

Aljamain Sterling highlighted that he's been managed by Dave Martin's management company. He'd also been with First Round Management for a while before trying his luck as a free agent for a couple of years. Among other management firms, 'Funk Master' has also been managed by VaynerSports.

On that note, Sterling suggested that his relationship with VaynerSports didn't work out the way he'd expected. He emphasized that he wouldn't disclose too many details regarding that and also doesn't intend to bash any of the managers/management firms he's worked with.

The 33-year-old explained that he simply feels that the long-running standard practices in MMA management are outdated. Insinuating that the aforesaid practices favor managers/management firms rather than fighters, the current free agent stated:

"I just think the policy that the way that these managers have been doing things -- the whole 10 percent thing and negotiating one time on our behalf. There's just a couple things that I think are very, very old school."
"I do think these are also things that need to be looked at and can be tweaked; maybe on a client-by-client basis. I'm not telling anyone how to do their job. But I do know we go in there and we fight very, very hard. We train very, very hard. And money that's paid out needs to be earned. And I think that's the most politically correct way I could put it."

Watch Sterling discuss the topic at 0:15 in the video below:

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Aljamain Sterling on a potential fight against UFC bantamweight superstar 'Sugar' Sean O'Malley

In the same video, Aljamain Sterling acknowledged that he could defend his title against bantamweight superstar 'Sugar' Sean O'Malley or former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo next. The UFC bantamweight kingpin also spoke to ESPN MMA a few days back and called for a fight against O'Malley.

Aljamain Sterling alluded to the fact that Sean O'Malley beat former UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan via split decision in their much-discussed number-one contender's matchup last month. Challenging 'Sugar' to face him next, Sterling said:

"Sugar Sean, sign the contract. That's my guy, there is no contract though. If there's a guy I could pick, I'd pick Sugar. I think he's the biggest fight, he's the most active and he beat the number one guy, a former champion. I don't see how you can backtrack after saying the winner of their fight gets the next crack at the title. For me, It's Sean O'Malley."

Watch Sterling's assessment below:

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Edited by Ken Cameron