Having gone through that experience himself, Sterling now makes sure no young fighters in the Serra-Longo world feel devoid of a mentor. And with 18 UFC fights under his belt, including four title fights, and soon to be two pay-per-view main events, “Funk Master” has accumulated plenty of advice to share.
“If I can help give them some of that knowledge, and it can make things easier or smoother for them to get to where I’m at, I feel like that’s a big win,” Sterling said.
For fighters knocking on the door of the UFC like Buzukja, Aljamain knows exactly how they should be conducting themselves, especially considering his call to the UFC was slightly unconventional.
“I always tell Dennis to just stay ready. That was the main thing that I learned to do. I got the call when I was drinking a beer,” Sterling laughed.
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“It was about four-and-a-half weeks out; I went for a jog that night to jump start the weight cut. It’s a little different for everybody, I think the similarities are that we’re constantly in the gym. I think that helps us succeed a lot more than others because they take off time, and it’s almost like seasonal for them, but, for us, it’s a lifestyle.”
With such a strong veteran presence in the gym, the next crop of Long Island studs is in good hands.
