UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling may be moving up to featherweight so that his teammate can have a chance at creating history.

The champion of the division and winner of his previous seven-straight bouts, Sterling currently sits No. 1 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie bantamweight rankings and No. 15 in men’s pound-for-pound ranks. His friend and teammate Merab Dvalishvili is close behind him at No. 5 in the division with his eyes on a title shot in the near future.

However, Sterling has expressed in the past that he will not fight against Dvalishvili. To further reinforce that notion, when asked about the potential matchup on Twitter, Sterling revealed his plans for the future.

“After Merab’s next win, I will probably have to move up, to allow him his chance that he earned, to make history for Georgia to win a world title,” Sterling wrote on Twitter. “We will figure it out.”

After Merab’s next win, I will probably have to move up, to allow him his chance that he earned, to make history for Georgia to win a world title. We will figure it out. https://t.co/buDwgCSObs

— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) May 31, 2022

Dvalishvili was born in Georgia, a country that has yet to produce a UFC champion. According to Sterling, if his teammate wins his next bout, he will step aside by moving up a division to allow Dvalishvili the opportunity to etch his name in the history books.

The plan checks out for Dvalishvili, who expressed his admiration for Sterling in response to his message on social media.

“This man @funkmasterMMA is gold!” Dvalishvili wrote on Twitter. “I learn from him every day. I am grateful to call him brother!”

This man @funkmasterMMA is gold!
I learn from him every day. I am grateful to call him brother ! ალჯო არის ოქრო კაცი. მისგან ბევრი რამე ვისწავლე და მას ჩემს წარმატებაში დიდი წვლილი მიუძღვის… https://t.co/nY2cKnTOEC

— Merab “The Machine” Dvalishvili (@MerabDvalishvil) June 1, 2022

Neither Sterling nor Dvalishvili currently have fights booked. Sterling was last in action at UFC 273, where he defeated former champion Petr Yan via split decision in a rematch from their first meeting at UFC 259 which ended via disqualification. Sterling won the rematch to successfully retain the UFC bantamweight title.

Dvalishvili’s most recent outing was at UFC 266, where he defeated former title challenger Marlon Moraes via second-round TKO, successfully pulling off an incredible comeback victory. Like Sterling, Dvalishvili has won his previous seven bouts.