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Aljamain Sterling: 'Everything I Said Was Fair and Valid'

Originally posted on Dice City Sports | By Robert LaMar | Last updated Feb 15, 2026 1:01 PM ET

In a video posted after UFC 321, Sterling questioned how quickly Aspinall opted out of the fight. “Was he milking it? Was he using his best Aljamain Sterling acting attributes to take home the gold?” Sterling asked. “From what he posted, it looks like everything is okay. He wasn’t even complaining about that eye.”

Sterling pointed to one key phrase in particular “I can’t see.”“You can’t say, ‘I can’t see.’ We know that is the nail in the coffin,” he said. “If you actually want your five minutes to try to recover, you can’t use those words.”

When the resurfaced comments were labeled one of the worst takes in MMA discourse following news of Aspinall’s surgeries, Sterling didn’t walk them back.

“Nope. Everything I said was fair and valid,” Sterling wrote on X. “NEVER did I say he was faking, lying, or exaggerating… My point remains.”

Sterling clarified that he believes fighters should exhaust recovery time before declaring themselves unable to continue referencing his own controversial title win over Petr Yan after an illegal knee.

Maybe this Aljo kid isn’t so bad… pic.twitter.com/IkubSBNPbt

— MAMBA (@Balldontlie05) February 14, 2026

Aspinall’s Frustration With the “Business”

While the debate continues externally, Aspinall’s frustration appears directed more broadly at the industry itself.

Speaking with Uncrowned’s Petesy Carroll, the heavyweight champion drew a sharp distinction between martial arts and the promotional machine behind it.

“I love martial arts. I absolutely love it,” Aspinall said. “I’ll never stop loving it, but I just hate the business.”

He went further.

“I think that fighters are just completely replaceable and the business will make you feel like that any chance it gets. Even if you get hit with an illegal move, which could affect the rest of your life, they don’t really give a s—. And no one else does either.”

Those words reflect a fighter who not only endured physical damage but felt publicly doubted in the aftermath.

Where Does the Division Go From Here?

The heavyweight picture remains unsettled.

Aspinall still holds the belt, but questions linger:

Will there be an immediate rematch with Gane?
Does the UFC pivot to another contender?
How long will recovery sideline the champion?

Public skepticism including remarks from Dana White has only amplified the noise.

For Sterling, it’s about competitive optics. For Aspinall, it’s about fighter welfare. And for the UFC, it’s about navigating controversy in a division that rarely lacks drama. The eye pokes may have ended the fight. But the argument they sparked is still wide open.

This article first appeared on Dice City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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