Sterling Staying Patient, Hoping For Full Recovery

Like the rest of the world right now, all Aljamain Sterling can do now is wait. In his case, he is ready for a quick diagnosis.

Ranked second in the UFC’s bantamweight rankings, Sterling (18-3) is currently recovering from wrist surgery. Getting it done back back in September, “Aljo” has been taking a longer recovery time than most expected. An ongoing issue, the idea to get it done has allowed Sterling to relieve pressure and return to true form.

Now, all Sterling has to do is go through the final stages of his treatment.

“It’s more of a mobility, range-of-motion thing,” Sterling told MMA Junkie. “I mean, I couldn’t even put my hand flat on the ground. This is my good hand, but I couldn’t even put my good hand flat when I was doing my cartwheels into the octagon. I would have to go and prop it up because I couldn’t deal with the pain that was in my wrist. I finally got it fixed. It was four years of fighting like that, training like that – a lot of pain. It got progressively worse. I won’t lie.”

Before the surgery, Sterling was on a four-fight win streak, and 6-1 in his last seven fights. A loss to Marlon Moraes (via vicious knee KO) set him back a step but his last few wins have helped secure a spot as bantamweight contender. His name has been associated with Cory Sandhagen, but he has since denied those claims as a result of the surgery and the lack of resources due to the coronavirus.

As far as his timetable for a return, he still has a long way to go to get to 100%.

“I’ve been grappling like this with one hand when I had the one cast on since December,” Sterling continued. “I think if I had to put a number on it, it’d probably be about 65-70 percent. I’m probably closer to 70 in terms of the strength and everything and the range of motion. I think that’s my overall assessment of where I’m at.”

Time may actually be on his side. With the coronavirus, UFC 249 and other upcoming UFC events have been postponed. While it is unknown how long they will remain that way, Sterling is looking for any advantage to be on par with the other bantamweights.

When do you think Aljamain Sterling will be ready to compete again?