UFC champ Aljamain Sterling to undergo neck surgery | Inquirer Sports
UFC

UFC champ Aljamain Sterling to undergo neck surgery

/ 06:18 PM April 10, 2021

Aljamain Sterling

FILE – Aljamain Sterling celebrates his victory over Pedro Munhoz at United Center on June 8, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. Rey Del Rio/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Rey Del Rio / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling will undergo surgery for a neck issue he has been dealing with for nearly a decade and hopes to return to action before the end of the year, ESPN reported.

American Sterling became the first UFC fighter to be crowned champion via disqualification when Petr Yan lost due to an illegal knee in the bantamweight title bout last month.

Article continues after this advertisement

Yan appeared to ask his corner before kneeing the downed Sterling in the fourth round. Sterling was unable to continue and Yan was disqualified, losing his title.

FEATURED STORIES

ESPN said that UFC was keen to book a rematch between Yan and Sterling as soon as possible.

Physicians “told me I will heal in three months and can start doing cardio to get myself ready,” ESPN quoted Sterling as saying.

Article continues after this advertisement

“They wouldn’t want to see me take a fight until they see everything has fused in my neck correctly. Five months would be ideal if I heal up really quick.

Article continues after this advertisement

“The faster I heal up, the faster I can fight. We’ll find out in the next three months and get something on schedule.”

Sterling also said he had been diagnosed with a herniated disc, a shoulder injury and a partially torn bicep on his left side, but won’t require surgery for those issues.

RELATED STORIES

China’s UFC champion Zhang puts title defense before virus jab

Eye poke ends Edwards-Muhammad UFC bout in Round 2

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

TAGS: bantamweight, Petr Yan, UFC

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.