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Morning Report: Aljamain Sterling remembers Cory Sandhagen cussing him out after fight

UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling recalled a fiery post-fight exchange with Cory Sandhagen after their UFC 250 showdown in June 2020. Sterling dominated the bout, submitting Sandhagen with a rear-naked choke in under 90 seconds to secure his spot as the top contender for Petr Yan’s title.

The two later crossed paths in the locker-room area, where Sandhagen allegedly told Sterling, *“Congrats, you f*cking asshole,”* to which Sterling responded with a shrug, *“Fair.”* The moment resurfaced during a recent YouTube discussion, where Sterling praised UFC featherweight Andre Fili’s sportsmanship after Fili’s knockout of Kai Kamaka III at UFC Vegas 122. Fili, who stopped himself from further striking Kamaka after the KO, later explained his restraint by saying, *“I’m a criminal, but I’m not a piece of shit.”* Sterling contrasted Fili’s conduct with his own past experiences, including a brutal knee KO loss to Marlon Moraes, where he saw no need for Moraes to check on him afterward.

Sterling commended Fili’s control, noting how fighters often deflect blame onto referees or opponents rather than taking accountability for their actions.

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