Sterling (photo via UFC)

By FCF Staff

After recording a memorable, painful looking submission victory at UFC 228, Aljamain Sterling is hoping to line up a fight with former bantamweight champ, Dominick Cruz.

Sterling faced Cody Stamann on Saturday night, but halted the bantamweight’s rise up the ranks, by ending the bout with a second round, kneebar.  Following the pivotal victory, Sterling had this to say about his desire to fight Cruz (quote via MMA Junkie):

“In a perfect world, Dominick Cruz gets it next,” Sterling said. “I take him out, submit my name as the next guy in line to challenge for the belt, and I think I’ve got all the tools to become a world champion. I really do. I can strike with anybody, I think I’m very hard to hit, you see the strike differential in offense and defense, and I’m a nightmare on the ground. If I get these hooks in, if I get on your back, I’m attacking submission after submission after submission. So off my back, on top, you pick your poison.”

Heading into this weekend’s action, Sterling was ranked #8 in the 135 division, and Cruz was sitting in the #2 spot.