Former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling will make his return against Calvin Kattar at UFC 300. Having conquered the 135-pound division, the ‘Funk Master’ now has his sights on the 145-pound division. But who prepares him for his MMA fights? Today we will be taking a look at Sterling’s gym, coaches, and teammates ahead of his fight on April 13th.

Born in Uniondale, New York, Aljamain Sterling did not have an easy upbringing. Some of his brothers joined the gang life, and to sway himself away from that environment, ‘Funk Master’ started wrestling. He became a two-time NCAA Division III All-American and then decided to join MMA after UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones told him about the sport.

Aljamain Sterling: gym, coaches and teammates

Jon Jones invited Aljamain Sterling to try out MMA at Jackson Wink MMA after he finished high school. However, the former bantamweight champion declined the offer. He later decided to join and start training at the Serra-Longo Fight Team. It turned out to be a great decision for Sterling as he found his place while training under Matt Serra and most importantly, Ray Longo. Moreover, the 34-year-old also trained at Serra Jiu-Jitsu, which operates under the Serra-Longo Fight Team, to develop his grappling skills.

When it comes to Aljamain Sterling’s teammates, there are many notable fighters. Firstly, ‘Funk Master’ trained with former champion Chris Weidman and Al Iaquinta while training at Serra-Longo Fight Team. He also met one of his best friends and current UFC bantamweight star Merab Dvalishvili in the same gym. Some of the other teammates of Sterling include Eddie Gordon, Nick Serra, Freddy Vidal, and more. The former UFC champion has built a stellar reputation for himself through his success. His coach, Ray Longo, has now spoken about the reasons he became a champion in the UFC.

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Ray Longo talks about ‘Funk Master’s success in winning the title

Aljamain Sterling got his first taste of championship gold after defeating Petr Yan at UFC 259. However, that fight did not end the way fans expected as Sterling won the fight via disqualification, but a rematch was in order. The bantamweight duo fought each other again with the title on the line at UFC 273.

This time, Sterling came out on top of the Russian ace with a unanimous decision win, and his coach Ray Longo credited ‘Funk Master’ for repeatedly training with the same routine he does for all of his UFC fights. “I believed him and so I said, ‘Alright, let’s just go back to work and do the same things. If that was you at your worst, then the next fight will be a totally different fight,'” said Ray Longo in an interview prior to the UFC 273 rematch.

Aljamain Sterling wanted to be a double champion like many others in the UFC. But the UFC 292 loss saw him miss out on that opportunity. However, he now has the chance to make an impact in the featherweight division against a fighter, who has suffered consecutive losses in his last two fights. We will have to wait and see how April 13 turns for ‘Funk Master’.

How Did Aljamain Sterling Get His Nickname ‘The Funk Master’? Meaning Behind Ex-UFC Champ’s Moniker