Aljamain Sterling Warns MMA Training Camps Must Adopt Boxing Model to Succeed
"The team thing is so played out. You got guys that come on the mat, some of these big gyms and there's like 40 50 bodies on the mat, 30 whatever. You can't service all those guys. If it's a young fight team, amateur team, you need to do that because this way you give everybody the same blueprint, the same foundational starting point so they can grow. But then as they start to develop and take fights, get experience, you need to start to hone in to that more boxing, boxing type of style."
About this episode
Host Ariel Helwani broadcasts from Las Vegas during UFC 329 fight week, conducting in-depth interviews with UFC play-by-play announcer Jon Anik and former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling, while also sitting down with UFC Hall of Famer Joanna Jedrzejczyk. Anik reveals his aspiration to call NFL games and announces plans to launch a broadcasting seminar called JABS, while discussing the demanding preparation behind his UFC commentary work, including handwriting fighter cards and memorizing all pre-fight copy. The episode extensively covers Conor McGregor's return fight against Max Holloway, with analysis of the press conference where McGregor delivered vintage trash talk and confrontational energy. Joanna Jedrzejczyk opens up about her daily internal struggle with retirement, revealing she discusses comeback possibilities with her manager constantly despite leaving the sport four years ago. Major news breaks during the show as Israel Adesanya announces his departure from City Kickboxing gym, while Merab Dvalishvili becomes involved in a physical altercation at a press conference in Georgia. Sterling provides insider perspective on the future of MMA training, arguing camps must adopt boxing's individualized model rather than traditional team structures. The episode also features detailed discussion of the ceremonial weigh-ins where both McGregor and Holloway successfully made weight, extensive analysis of Shakur Stevenson signing with Zuffa Boxing, and personal anecdotes from Helwani including an emotional letter from his son at summer camp and the crew's group outing to an upscale omakase restaurant and the Sphere to watch The Wizard of Oz.
Key takeaways
- Jon Anik reveals NFL play-by-play would be his dream job and announces launch of JABS broadcasting seminar for aspiring announcers in December 2026
- Joanna Jedrzejczyk admits she discusses UFC comeback with her manager every other day despite retiring four years ago
- Israel Adesanya announces departure from City Kickboxing gym where he built his championship career, plans boxing-style individualized training approach
- Merab Dvalishvili involved in physical confrontation with Umar Nurmagomedov supporter at RAF press conference in Georgia after refusing to fight Umar
- Aljamain Sterling reveals three potential opponents being discussed but none is Lerone Murphy, who he believes is the fight that makes most sense
- Conor McGregor delivers vintage press conference performance ahead of Max Holloway fight, with both fighters successfully making weight at 170 pounds
- Sterling argues MMA must transition from team training model to boxing's individualized camp structure for fighters to reach their full potential