"Debate, dispute, agree to disagree" - Aljamain Sterling reacts to Charlie Kirk's shooting with heartfelt note

Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling expressed his condolences upon hearing the news of Charlie Kirk's death on Wednesday.

The conservative activist was shot in the neck while interacting with students at the Sorensen Center courtyard on the campus of Utah Valley University. The Turning Point USA co-founder was rushed to a local hospital. However, he did not survive and Donald Trump shared the tragic news of his demise on X.

Kirk's death sparked reactions from many, including Sterling, who was saddened by the incident. He took to X and chastised people who take the route of violence:

''RIP to Charlie Kirk. Just because you don’t agree with someone’s opinions, doesn’t mean you just start killing people. Debate, dispute, agree to disagree. You gotta be a dark human being to want to kill ppl over different likes, preferences, opinions. Thats what makes us special. We are all different but one people.''

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As for the MMA scene, Sterling (25-5) got back in the win column against Brian Ortega at UFC Shanghai last month, prevailing via unanimous decision. He is currently recovering from an injury sustained as a result of a spinning elbow strike against Ortega.

Aljamain Sterling slams veteran UFC referee

During an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show earlier this month, Aljamain Sterling voiced his displeasure with referee Herb Dean's behavior in his fight against Brian Ortega.

'Funk Master' said:

''When I talk about someone coming in the backroom and giving the fighters rule meeting and having almost like the most dismissive attitude, and just not wanting to even be there to do the meeting, that's a red flag. And I think that just kind of signals, maybe you're not having as much fun doing this as you used to. Maybe with the popularity, you feel like you're too big for the sport, to always want to get so involved in a fight. I've never seen someone get hurt and Herb yells at them to engage in a fight when he's right there, seeing that the person just got hurt.'' [23:45 of the interview]

About the author

Swagat is a dynamic MMA writer with a total experience of a little less than a year, which includes time in retail and sports journalism. He holds an MBA degree.

Swagat fell in love with the sport after watching the iconic grudge match between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier at UFC 182 in early 2015. Nate Diaz holds a special place in his heart for the Stockton native’s entertaining fan-friendly style and ability to deliver exciting fights regardless of the opponent.

In terms of rule changes in MMA, Swagat advocates for making scores public after each round, adding transparency to judging decisions.

Swagat prioritizes accuracy and relevance while writing and conducts thorough research to ensure the content is fresh and reliable.

He enjoys playing football and painting during his free time.

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