![Aljamain Sterling [Image courtesy: Getty]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/10/78046-16661028782094-1920.jpg)
![Aljamain Sterling [Image courtesy: Getty]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYH/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgP/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAAM3kCS//xAAdEAEBAAICAwEAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMEACEGERIT/9oACAEBAAE/APGc+rhxbmXa1f2ruBaUm2ElJ9hwMVBVa8q9r9vP/8QAFxEAAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECMf/aAAgBAgEBPwDKZ//EABYRAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAMf/aAAgBAwEBPwBwv//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling has gone by several nicknames over the years, but the one that stuck out the most to him is 'Funk Master'.
During a 2016 interview with MMA Now, Sterling discussed the inspiration behind his nickname and revealed that his current moniker was inspired by the term 'Funky' for his unorthodox wrestling style. However, the bantamweight champion didn't want to use the exact nickname as it was already used by wrestling phenom Ben Askren. Here's what Aljamain Sterling said:
"My nickname is based on my fight style and grappling style from high school. So, that's pretty much how it originated. It kind of came through being like lacking in fundamental skills in terms of wrestling, knowing how to properly shoot, knowing how to properly sprawl, and just scrambling for position and just doing weird stuff, and they called me 'Funky'."
Sterling added:
"I didn't want to use the same nickname as Ben Askren, so I decided to figure out something else I can work by still keeping the funk in there, and Funk Master was born."
Watch Aljamain Sterling discuss the inspiration behind his nickname below:
Sterling's penchant for grappling also gave rise to a bunch of other monikers in the past like 'The Human Anaconda' and 'The Human Jansport', a reference to US backpack maker JanSport.
Can Aljamain Sterling outgrapple T.J. Dillashaw at UFC 280?
Aljamain Sterling is known for his dominant wrestling style. The bantamweight champion used his grappling abilities to submit Cory Sandhagen at UFC 250 and to outpoint Petr Yan in their championship rematch at UFC 273.
Wrestling is one of the strongest tools in 'Funk Master's arsenal and he is expected to rely heavily on it when he attempts to make a second successful title defense against T.J. Dillashaw at UFC 280 this Saturday.
However, T.J. Dillashaw isn't far behind when it comes to grappling. The former two-time champion has a takedown defense rate of 86% inside the UFC octagon. Dillashaw is a collegiate wrestler known for his explosiveness. Dillashaw is also incredibly difficult to be taken down to the canvas.
Additionally, he is also a phenomenal scrambler on the mat and is quick to fight for positions after stuffing takedowns. If 'Funk Master' fails to land takedowns on the challenger, Sterling could be in for a rough night.
