Aljamain Sterling returned to the win column at UFC Shanghai, but it didn’t come without its frustrations.
In the night’s 153-pound catchweight co-main event, the former bantamweight champion cruised to a unanimous decision over two-time featherweight title challenger Brian Ortega. Sterling utilized an improving striking game and his strong wrestling to wear down and control the seemingly depleted Ortega. However, both before and during his Octagon appearance in China, Sterling wasn’t happy with the way veteran referee Herb Dean conducted himself.
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“When I talk about someone coming in the backroom and giving the fighters rule meeting and having almost like the most dismissive attitude, and just not wanting to even be there to do the meeting, that’s a red flag,” Sterling said of Dean on Uncrowned’s “The Ariel Helwani Show.” “And I think that just kind of signals, maybe you’re not having as much fun doing this as you used to. Maybe with the popularity, you feel like you’re too big for the sport, to always want to get so involved in a fight.
“I’ve never seen someone get hurt [like Sterling did in Round 5 against Ortega] and Herb yells at them to engage in a fight when he’s right there, seeing that the person just got hurt. Then, when you hurt the other guy, he says absolutely nothing when the other guy is doing the same exact thing for literally 34 seconds. I’ve counted this to make sure I’m not being biased.”
There was another moment, in particular, that Sterling recalled actually shouting back at Dean mid-fight.
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“I don’t know, man. I get a takedown, Brian ties up my arms in almost like this rubber guard position, and [Dean] is yelling at me to work,” Sterling said. “I said something to him in the middle of the fight, I’m like, ‘Well, tell him to open up his guard!’ What am I supposed to do? If you were a former fighter, how are you not understanding these positions? If you’re going to say something to me, say something to him too. Obviously [Ortega] wants the fight to stand up, so I understand Brian, what he’s doing, but you can’t fault me when I can’t get my arm out. I’m just supposed to make a mistake?”
UFC Shanghai wasn’t Sterling’s first fight with Dean in charge of officiating duties. Dean also acted as the official in Sterling’s final successful defense of the UFC bantamweight title — a split decision nod over Henry Cejudo in May 2023 — as well as the former champ’s 2014 promotional debut against Cody Stamann and his 2017 battle against Renan Barao.
As one of the most-utilized referees in the sport, Dean has come under fire in recent years for various officiating controversies. But Sterling didn’t highlight Dean as the only notable referee with consistency issues — he also targeted a more present referee in his recent fights, Marc Goddard.
“The action and responsibility falls on both [fighters],” Sterling said. “Especially the guy who’s in a defensive position and not looking to improve his position. How do you fault the defensive guy who went for the takedown, got the takedown, and is now in a position where the other guy is stalling him out, and it looks like we’re the bad guys that’s on top? It’s not a Khamzat [Chimaev] vs. [Dricus du Plessis] situation where Khamzat’s in a dominant position where he can land big strikes. I can understand that, but that’s not what this was.
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“It’s the same thing with Marc Goddard — Marc Goddard’s never wrong. Herb Dean is never wrong. Even when Herb Dean let [Francisco] Trinaldo kill … Jai Herbert — when, essentially, Dan Hardy got fired based on that interaction because he’s letting [Herbert] cover up, protecting his neck and posting one hand, turning away, and Herb’s still letting this guy get pummeled. C.B. Dolloway, when he’s on the ground [against Khalid Murtazaliev], Herb is watching him — what was it? Like 40 unanswered shots? [Dolloway] in the fetal position, he goes belly down and covers his head? Puts on his headphones.
“We’re the only ones who have accountability. Us and the coaches.”
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Ultimately, Sterling still emerged victorious to launch himself into the UFC’s featherweight top five. The bounce-back win did come at a price, though, as Sterling injured his elbow on a spinning backfist attempt against Ortega. Sterling revealed that he tore his right tricep, but luckily the injury isn’t severe enough to warrant surgery. He’ll undergo physical therapy for five weeks before assessing his healing progress.
After beating Ortega, Sterling appeared to catch the eye of the UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. Sterling said the two conversed privately about potentially fighting next, which is precisely what Sterling hopes for, despite not expecting to leapfrog the loaded featherweight contender ladder.
“[Volkanovski] said he’ll throw my name in the hat. I hope I’m next. [UFC CBO] Hunter [Campbell] told me to my face I’m not next,” Sterling said. “I understand why, but I also understand why Volkanovski would probably rather fight me over one of these guys who are still kind of building their name. It’s a better accolade fight for him versus fighting someone who’s just an undefeated prospect.
“I think he’ll fight the next guy because he’s still competing, but I think there’s a conversation to be had that’s probably [better] for him. I’m not a power puncher, right? There’s less risk, higher reward, in terms of the name value. He gets a better scalp if he were to win [against me]. I think there’s more upside for a fight with myself [for Volkanovski rather than a fight against] Lerone Murphy.”
