Aljamain Sterling criticizes UFC champion Sean O'Malley for avoiding the top contenders.

Following his victory at Polaris 25 on September 30, Sterling didn't hold back in accusing UFC bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley of avoiding top contenders. He called upon O'Malley to exhibit the qualities of a true champion and face formidable opponents, given O'Malley's intention to defend his title against Marlon Vera.

Sterling specifically highlighted his teammate, Merab Dvalishvili, who boasts an impressive nine-fight win streak and occupies the No. 2 spot in the rankings. Vera currently stands at No. 6 and is coming off a loss to No. 4 Cory Sandhagen, another credible contender for O'Malley's first title defense.

It's worth noting that Sterling had his own share of controversy during his title reign. He secured the championship via disqualification in a bout against Petr Yan in 2021. He then narrowly won a split decision in their rematch and capitalized on an injured T.J. Dillashaw for his second defense. Sterling also secured a close decision against an aging Henry Cejudo returning from a three-year hiatus before eventually losing the title to O'Malley in August.

Despite the ups and downs of his reign, Sterling consistently faced all comers that the UFC put in front of him. His criticism of O'Malley's decision-making stems from his personal frustration, fueled by his friendship with Dvalishvili and his own experience of not being able to cherry-pick opponents as a champion.

While O'Malley's rematch with "Chito" holds undeniable marketability, the question remains whether it's fair to overshadow more deserving challengers like Dvalishvili and Sandhagen.