Aljamain Sterling has shared his perspective on Conor McGregor’s latest injury, recovery plans, and anti-doping situation as the former UFC champion faces another long road back.
Sterling, who underwent neck surgery that fixed nerve damage and allowed him to compete without severe pain, drew on his own experience returning from major setbacks. After that surgery, he came back to defeat Petr Yan in a rematch and solidify himself as UFC bantamweight champion.
“You always hope that people can come back,” Sterling said, adding, “I don’t want to say be better but at least come back and compete a high level still. I think that’s what most of us wanted to see. Can Conor actually come back and can he come back and compete at a high level?”
Sterling referenced past doubts about his own career. “T.J. Dillashaw, before the fight, he did an interview and was saying he heard that [neck surgery] was the nail in the coffin, and I would never come back. Thankfully, I did and I came back and I felt better. I’ve been able to compete and win a world title the right way. Defended it a couple of times. Here I am a couple of years removed.”
With McGregor having previously left and later re-entered the UFC anti-doping program, Sterling highlighted the testing pool as a key issue. “I think the biggest thing for me is the testing pool,” he said, also noting, “There should be some type of leniency with that… We’re talking life after fighting, not just ‘I’m trying to make sure I can come back and compete.’ But quality of life.”
