Aljamain Sterling has been going through a lot heading into his big rematch against Petr Yan at UFC 273. The current bantamweight champion has been dealing with a lot of hate from the fans.

Petr Yan has been adding to it by firing shots at Aljamain Sterling in the lead up to UFC 273. The bantamweight champion likes to be humble after victories but this fight is different.

“So it’d be nice to make some money,” the UFC champion said on The MMA Hour. “And I can’t wait to do it and shove it up everyone’s asses and have them just—I’m gonna be so petty, man. I try to be humble about my wins. I always talk shit before the fights with all my opponents, but I always be humble about the wins. But this one, there’s just something different where I feel like it’s deserved.

“And either way. Knock on wood, if things don’t go my way and he decides to do the same thing, that’s fine. I’ll eat it. I’ll eat it. I’m a man of my word, I back up my words, and I have no problem eating shit if I lose. But at the same time, I really do in my heart feel like I’m better than this guy and I can’t wait to have everyone just suck it.”

The build-up is exhausting for everyone involved, it has been going on for about a year, dating back to March 2021. Aljamain Sterling will be hoping to remain the UFC bantamweight champion come April 2022.