Aljamain Sterling isn`t the only Sterling brother making waves in fighting; his brother, Kelvin Sterling, is also returning to MMA competition this Saturday.
Kelvin Sterling, aged 35, is scheduled for his third professional MMA fight. He will face Rodrigo Brauna, a fighter making his pro debut, at LFA 204. The event will take place at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut.
Sterling transitioned to the professional scene after an amateur career that included 11 fights, where he achieved a 7-4 record. His pro debut in May 2022 ended in a no-contest due to an accidental eye poke. Three months later, he faced Keron Reed at CFFC, losing by decision in what became his last fight.
So, what`s prompting his return now?
“Time passes quickly,” Kelvin Sterling told MMA Fighting. “I feel like I`ve always been ready to fight. I took my first amateur fight after only training for about three months in MMA. I`ve never been one to back down from a fight.”
Sterling vividly recalls his previous loss, partly due to a severe weight cut to bantamweight—the same weight class where his brother Aljamain became a UFC champion. He admits the weight cut was too extreme.
Kelvin realized the severity of the weight cut a bit too late, as he remembers the difficult moments leading up to his only professional defeat.
“I vomited a lot of blood and told my teammate, Phumi Nkuta,” Sterling recounted. “He was shocked and advised me to call off the fight. I refused and fought anyway, feeling completely out of it.”
“I didn’t even think about rehydrating properly after throwing up so much. I just went out there and tried to tough it out, but it didn’t go well.”
Aljamain agreed that it was a valuable learning experience, highlighting the often-overlooked aspects of fighting that are decided outside the ring.
“I really think it was just inexperience,” Aljamain said about Kelvin. “He didn`t have the wrestling background like my other brother and I. Learning to cut weight correctly, especially in the wrong weight class of 135 pounds, was tough.
“Learning proper weight cutting and rehydration techniques is crucial. He`s even started eating pasta, which is funny. These small things can make a big difference. When a fighter isn`t performing in the cage like they do in training, there`s a disconnect. I believe he’s figured it out now, and I’m excited to see how he performs at a more suitable weight, feeling better and stronger.”
After a significant break and resolving his weight cut issues, Sterling is eager to demonstrate that the hype from the Serra-Longo camp is real, with Aljamain there to support him.
“[The headline will be] ‘Kelvin makes weight easily and wins,’” Kelvin predicted. “Hopefully, I can get my first finish, but I`ll focus on being smart, safe, and getting the job done.”
“Domination is the theme for this weekend,” Aljamain added.
“Yes sir,” Kelvin confirmed.
