Sterling calls out Rivera

Jamaican mixed martial artist Aljamain 'Funk Master' Sterling has challenged the Ultimate Fight Championships' (UFC) number-three ranked bantamweight fighter, Jimmie 'El Terror' Rivera, to a match-up.

Sterling, whose last action inside the octagon was on UFC 214 last month, saw him beat Brazilian fighter Renan Barao by unanimous decision. He told STAR Sports yesterday that a win over Rivera could be the ladder to a title match.

Rivera is on a 20-fight win. The only loss of his 22-fight career occurred in his second bout in 2008. Sterling said beating someone with such a good record would make everyone take notice of his potential.

"I think, right now, Jimmie Rivera's the second contender for a title shot. I think he's on a 20-fight win streak. It would be nice to go in there and snap that win streak on my way to a title shot," Sterling said

"I think I am one or two fights away from the belt. If everything falls into place, I could realistically cut the line, so to speak," said Srterling, adding that a match with Rivera would be of great financial benefit to him.

"We've got some history from the regional circuits, a little back-and-forth banter," he said. "Now the time is right. We can actually make some good money that I can use towards doing some good things. Now that the time is right, high-stake fight, whoever wins."