Sterling calls Yan's GOAT status 'crazy': 'one defence is not enough'
Aljamain Sterling said Petr Yan cannot yet be called the bantamweight GOAT with only one title defence, although he praised the Russian's technique. Yan beat Merab Dvalishvili in the UFC 333 co-main event.
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No co-main event do UFC 333, Petr Yan superou Merab Dvalishvili e reacendeu a discussão sobre quem é o maior peso-galo da história. Para Aljamain Sterling, ex-dono do cinturão dos 61 kg, a resposta ainda não pode ser dada.
Em vídeo no próprio canal do YouTube, o americano elogiou o nível do russo, mas cobrou mais tempo no topo. Segundo ele, uma defesa de título nesta fase não basta para colocar Yan à frente de outros nomes da divisão.
"Ele com certeza está na briga. Ele está na conversa junto com Dominick Cruz, Merabs, TJ Dillashaw. Mas simplesmente dizer, de olhos fechados, que ele é o 'GOAT' com apenas uma defesa de cinturão, é meio loucura", afirmou.
Sterling não questiona o talento do atual campeão. "Do ponto de vista técnico, se você quiser dizer que a técnica dele é muito, muito boa e que ele é um 'casca-grossa' quando está lá dentro, eu concordo 100%", completou.
Os dois se enfrentaram duas vezes e construíram uma rivalidade intensa. Mesmo assim, o americano preferiu destacar a eficiência técnica e a agressividade de Yan no octógono, em vez de negar o que o russo já conquistou.
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