Aljamain Sterling Reveals Brutal Injury After UFC Shanghai: ‘I Can’t Bend My Arm’
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Aljamain Sterling and Brian Ortega’s scheduled fight at UFC Shanghai took an unexpected turn when Ortega uncharacteristically missed weight.
The co-main event was due to take place at regular featherweight restrictions (145 lbs). But, a visibly drained Ortega failed to make the weight, with the bout going ahead at a catchweight of 153 lbs.
Sterling, the heavy favorite, dominated the fight, bouncing back into the win column. All three scorecards were in favor of the “Funk Master” at 50-45. The win marks a step forward for the former bantamweight champion, as his transition to featherweight continues.
However, one strike that landed flush left fans and Sterling bemused as to how “T-City” was still standing.
Ortega Shook Off Sterling’s Deadly Spinning-Elbow
Down two rounds and about to be three on the scorecards, Ortega rushed in on Sterling at the end of the third. Sterling stepped back and cracked him with a vicious spinning elbow to the dome.
Somehow, someway, Ortega stayed standing, yet to be finished by strikes in the UFC.
UFC 319 saw two spinning-elbow finishes from Carlos Prates and Lerone Murphy, and if it weren’t for Ortega’s iron chin, we would have another on the record books. After moving up from bantamweight, Sterling is still hunting his first finish in a new weight class.
Since 2020, Brian Ortega has gone just 2-4 in the UFC, with his featherweight ranking steadily slipping amid a string of tough matchups and injuries.
Sterling has called his shots to face featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. But before then, Aljo will have to recover from a concerning injury that has left him unable to move his arm.
Sterling Reacts to Injury: ‘Use The Spinning Stuff They Said’
Sterling has taken to social media to update his fans on his recovery after a big win. Unfortunately, he didn’t get his highlight reel KO, and is being made to pay for it.
Sterling jokingly asked his fellow rising featherweight contender Murphy online for future advice on spinning elbows.
“It’s just all fluid. I gotta ask Leron Murphy how he landed that spinning-elbow, because I landed it and that sh*t didn’t feel great,” he said.
Now at 36, Sterling most likely has a small window of opportunity for another title shot. It will be interesting to see if his impressive performance against Ortega has done him enough to earn a shot.
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