LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 29: (R-L) Bryan Caraway celebrates his victory over Aljamain Sterling in their bantamweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside the Mandalay Bay Events Center on May 29, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Aljamain Sterling suffered his first career loss in May at UFC Fight Night in Vegas to now-fourth-ranked bantamweight Bryan Caraway, and while he handled the loss well in the immediate aftermath, the 26-year-old admits he couldn't keep his emotions locked in for long.
Sterling, who lost by split decision, says he thought he was handling the loss well and putting it behind him, but came unraveled while at a club with friends that night. Sterling chronicled his reaction to the loss in a post with Champions.co:
Later, about an hour before closing time, one of my other friends came over and then he starts talking about it -- the same song and dance. It was like pulling out the right Jenga block, and in doing so it brought the tower down. It just overflowed inside me, and I couldn't hold it together anymore. I legit broke down and just started babbling and crying inside of this club.
It was 3:30 in the morning and we were in a secluded area of the club, so there weren't too many people around to witness it. I sat there like that for a good 20 minutes. Now, I'm a true believer that you should keep that sort of stuff behind closed doors. You don't want to let people see you in that vulnerable state, but it got to me.
Sterling entered his fight with Caraway ranked in the bantamweight top five and fresh off a free agency tour that ended with him re-signing with the UFC. He finally was getting the push from the UFC that he'd long asked for, headlining the UFC Fight Pass prelims of the card.
He looked great in the opening round but blew his arms out trying to finish Caraway with a full nelson. The gamble didn't work, and Caraway was able to grind his way to victory.
The loss set Sterling back in his pursuit for UFC gold, but he's young and talented enough to rebound and still make a run at the title.
Losses are inevitable, but at least Sterling now knows he should stay out of the club following one.
Fox News First
Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox.
By entering your email and clicking the Subscribe button, you agree to the Fox News Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can opt-out at any time.