Aljamain Sterling has cemented himself as one of the top bantamweight contenders, and he wants a title shot.

Since losing to Marlon Moraes in December 2017, Sterling (18-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) has bounced back, winning his last four in a row. He notched wins over the likes of Jimmie Rivera and recently Pedro Munhoz, positioning himself ahead of the pack at 135 pounds.

Bantamweight and flyweight champion Henry Cejudo, however, just underwent shoulder surgery and is expected to be sidelined for the rest of the year. With no announcement on which title Cejudo will defend next, Sterling would like a shot at the interim bantamweight title against budding rival Petr Yan.

And while Sterling admits an interim title might not make sense, he just doesn’t think it’s fair for the division to be held up should Cejudo decide to defend the flyweight title first.

“I don’t think it makes sense for an interim title, but it kind of bugs me,” Sterling told MMA Junkie Radio. “For (Cejudo) to have to come back and defend the flyweight title, now puts the bantamweight division in limbo once again. After it just got some new life, it got some hot prospects, surging contenders.”

“This division hasn’t been better since the whole thing with T.J. (Dillashaw) in my personal opinion,” Sterling added. “And I think you don’t want to lose that momentum, so that’s the perfect scenario for me, but if Cejudo has to go down and defend that belt first then I’m 100 percent down for an interim title fight vs. Petr Yan.”

Sterling believes Cejudo’s next move will be at flyweight, especially with him coming off a long layoff following surgery. He thinks Cejudo will want to ease his way back at flyweight first, not bantamweight.

“I knew that was the belt that he (Cejudo) had to defend first, but I also know he doesn’t like making 125 (pounds),” Sterling said. “I know he’s not afraid, but it’s the path of least resistance in terms of a first title fight back, so if that’s the route he wants to go, I understand it. I think he knows if he comes back up to bantamweight, it’s going to be a long night for him.

“I’m a different fight compared to everybody else, and I think he knows that. I got great jiu-jitsu off my back, especially in top position, and my striking just keeps getting better every single time I step in there. I think I’m starting to finally come into my own and pull off the stuff that we work on in the gym and that my coaches have been raving about for so long.”

Targeting a return by the end of the year, Sterling believes he’ll be fighting Yan next. The two have gone back and forth on social media, calling each other out. And with Cejudo out of the mix for the foreseeable future, it seems the fight is imminent.

Yan is also sidelined, recovering from an elbow surgery, but Sterling believes he’ll be ready for an end-of-the-year showdown.

“He says he’s only supposed to be out for like four weeks, maybe 5 weeks, so we could potentially be fighting towards the end of the year,” Sterling said.

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