Aljamain Sterling is approaching his 22nd fight in the UFC and will reach his 40th career MMA bout at UFC Vegas 116. The former bantamweight champion is putting final touches on his preparation ahead of the event. Sterling faces Umar Nurmagomedov in what will be a significant test of whether he can continue competing at the highest level. The post questioned whether Sterling can fight for another title in the coming years or if his upcoming opponent will mark the beginning of his decline. At this stage of his career, the fight represents a crucial measuring stick for Sterling's future prospects in the sport.
Aljamain "Funk Master" Sterling is set to make his 22nd appearance inside the UFC octagon at UFC Vegas 116, with the bout against Umar Nurmagomedov also marking his 40th professional MMA contest — a milestone that underscores just how much mileage the American veteran carries into fight week.
Sterling, 36, competes out of the Serra-Longo Fight Team and is currently ranked fourth in the featherweight division, a move up from the bantamweight ranks where he once reigned as champion. The New York-born fighter holds a 26-5 record and brings a well-rounded offensive game to the cage, averaging 4.45 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy while also threatening on the mat with 2.45 takedowns per 15 minutes and 0.6 submission attempts over the same span. At this stage of his career, the question surrounding Sterling is whether he still has the tools to chase another title run or whether elite competition will begin to expose the wear of a long campaign.
Standing across from him will be Umar Nurmagomedov, the 30-year-old Russian contender ranked second in the bantamweight division with a 20-1 record. Fighting out of Eagles MMA in orthodox stance, Nurmagomedov combines sharp striking — 3.86 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 56 percent, one of the higher marks in the division — with a relentless grappling attack that produces 4.03 takedowns per 15 minutes. At five-foot-eight with a 69-inch reach, he is physically compact but carries genuine finishing threat across multiple areas.
Why it matters
- Sterling's ranking and age make this a pivotal moment in determining whether a second title run is realistic.
- Nurmagomedov's number-two ranking means a victory could position him firmly in title contention at bantamweight.
- The stylistic crossroads — Sterling's submission threat against Nurmagomedov's elite takedown volume — creates a compelling grappling dynamic that could define the outcome.
