Aljamain Sterling is out to pick a fight, and his target is Jimmie Rivera.

The beef between the Serra-Longo product Sterling and his New Jersey-based division mate has existed for several months and has played out in various platforms in the public eye. Sterling openly called out Rivera during the FloCombat Road Trip project in an interview that brought nothing short of five-alarm heat.

Nevertheless, the bout did not materialize because the surging bantamweight contender Rivera instead signed on to face former titleholder Dominick Cruz at UFC 219 on Dec. 30. Sterling would later agree to a matchup with veteran Rani Yahya at UFC Fight Night 123, but the pairing was short-lived, as the Brazilian was forced out of the bout with an injury.

This left an opening in Sterling’s schedule, and with news of Cruz suffering a broken arm ahead of his fight at UFC 219, Rivera is currently without an opponent as well. “The Funk Master” believes the perfect solution for both fighters is sitting on the table, and they can settle their beef with fists in the process.

@JimmieRivera135 You talked hella shit back on the regional circuit and when I got signed to the @UFC...#TheseElbowsAreReadyForYou!! — Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) September 20, 2017





“I want a challenge, and beating Jimmie Rivera puts me in a position where I’m one fight away from a title shot,” Sterling told FloCombat. “Had I fought and defeated Yahya, I’m one fight away from a title shot and the same would be the case with Rivera as well. People will say, ‘Why take the harder fight?’ and it’s because I like to challenge myself.

“I’m not going to pull a ‘Jimmie McDuck’ and try to avoid the toughest competition out there. Eventually, he’s going to have to fight me. He’s going to have to fight the toughest guys in the division if he wants to be the champ. And if you can’t take me out now, what the hell makes you think you can take out the champ or take me out if you became the champ? I just don’t really understand the logic behind it.

“My logic on this is if I can’t beat Jimmie Rivera then I’m probably never going to win UFC gold," he continued. "I refuse to believe that because I truly believe UFC gold is in my future.”

While the friction between Sterling and Rivera has come front and center in recent months, the dialogue between the two has existed for quite some time. Shortly after his arrival to the UFC in 2015, “El Terror” made a play to lock down a bout with the Long Island native.

At the time, Sterling was already several wins into his own run up the divisional ladder and didn’t feel facing a newcomer made a ton of sense. Yet, with Rivera putting together an impressive run of his own, and Sterling bouncing back strong in his own right, the “Human Jansport” feels now is the time to step into the cage.

What did you say when I wanted to fight you previously "that fight wouldn't do anything for me" @FunkMaster_UFC #whatgoesaroundcomesaround — Jimmie Rivera (@JimmieRivera135) September 20, 2017





“It’s been going on for a little while now,” Sterling said. “When I was 4-0 in the UFC and coming off the free agency period he wanted to fight me. I think he was 1-0 at the time and the fight made absolutely no sense. I was chasing bigger things. I ended up coming up on the short end of the stick on two very close split decisions in fights that definitely could have went the other way.

“He’s now 5-0 in the UFC and I’m 6-2 coming off back-to-back wins. I’m also coming off beating Dana White’s former GOAT in Renan Barao, and I think his biggest win to date has come against Thomas Almeida. I just can’t see how he gets off thinking he’s done anything.

“He’s never beaten anyone in the top five of the division,” Sterling added. “He wants to count [Urijah] Faber but claimed he was washed up and all this other talk. It just doesn’t make sense.”

While Sterling has difficulty wrapping his head around certain presentations Rivera has made, the one thing he’s crystal clear about is why the timing is right for a potential bout between the bantamweight standouts.

With TJ Dillashaw recently regaining the divisional crown from Cody Garbrandt at UFC 217, and other key contenders either having just fought or locked into matchups, the road is clear for Sterling and Rivera to throw dukes.

“I don’t see anyone else for him to fight and I know he doesn’t see anyone for himself," Sterling said. "Is he going to sit there and wait and hope he gets a potential title shot? I highly doubt he’d get that shot. We are both top-ranked fighters and it’s a fight that makes sense.

“I’m better than all these guys and I’m willing to prove it. That’s how I feel right now. If Jimmie thinks he’s better than me tell him to sack up, grow a pair of nuts and let’s find out. We can do it Dec. 9 in Fresno (CA) or Dec. 30 in Las Vegas. Either date is fine with me.

“I’m here to get it done,” he added. “If Jimmie wants to go in there, shake it up a little bit and find out who is the king of the East Coast I’m 100 percent game. Let’s find out.”