Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling will face ex-UFC fighter Mike Grundy in a grappling match at Polaris 25, after Sterling’s original opponent Nathaniel Wood had to drop out.
Former UFC bantamweight champion, Aljamain Sterling, has undergone a shift in opponents for his impending grappling match at Polaris 25. Originally, Sterling had been slated to go head-to-head with Nathaniel Wood at the event set for September 30. However, after scheduling his own return to the octagon in October, the British featherweight was forced to step down from the card.
Assuming the mantle is former UFC player, Mike Grundy. Now, Grundy is going toe-to-toe with Sterling in a unique grappling match that forms part of the Polaris 25 card. This much-anticipated event will be broadcast live on UFC Fight Pass. Grundy, a fourth-fight veteran in the UFC, concluded his run with the promotion in 2022, on the back of three successive losses. In the intervening period, Grundy managed to clinch a win in a separate grappling competition.
In addition to his record in MMA, Grundy boasts a distinguished career in wrestling back in his home country, England. He is also a brown belt holder in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. In contrast, Aljamain Sterling is a black belt under the tutelage of former UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra. The upcoming grappling showdown with Grundy marks Sterling’s re-entry into the fray, following a second-round knockout loss he suffered against Sean O’Malley at UFC 292. Consequently, this defeat cost him his UFC bantamweight title and halted his unbeaten run of nine fights.