Urijah Faber returned from retirement at UFC Fight Night Sacramento, defeating Ricky Simon by first round knockout.
Potential title shot talk started up right after the bout, but Aljamain Sterling says that Faber doesn’t deserve a crack at the bantamweight gold.
“I didn’t think he’d be that irrational to think that after coming out of retirement after such a long layoff and losing to a guy [Jimmie Rivera] that two guys ahead of him beat,” Sterling said to Submission Radio (via Jed Meshew of MMA Fighting). “I just didn’t think that made a ton of sense. I understand he’s a legend and all that, he just has a huge following and what not, but let’s be real here, the guy’s had four title shots, and right now I don’t think he’s deserving of a fifth.”
Faber previously had three shots at the UFC Bantamweight Title, losing to Dominick Cruz and Renan Barao (x2).
Sterling doesn’t mind if Faber gets a title shot down the line, but he believes that Faber needs to wait in line for a little while first.
“I think Dana knows,” Sterling said. “If it was a GSP and coming off of a big win, coming off of retiring from the belt like GSP has done in the past, and coming back and just wanting to fight for the belt immediately, it makes sense. But Urijah’s not that guy. So, it does not make any sense whatsoever. I think he’s a huge draw in Sacramento, I don’t know if everyone is… the thing about MMA fans is, what have you done for me lately? So, for him to be away for so long, come back with such a big win – don’t get me wrong, it was a great performance on his part in terms of the finish, I just think there’s a hierarchy now. He left the queue, and now he re-entered the queue. So, if he wants to come back and challenge for a world title, more power to him, but he’s gonna have to do it on my terms and wait for the shit.”
The bantamweight great is ranked #14 in the UFC Bantamweight Division, while Sterling currently sits in the #2 position.
