Aljamain Sterling delivered a bold post-fight callout targeting both Movsar Evloev and Alexander Volkanovski for a title shot. Sterling emphasized his unique fighting style, mixing attacks and difficult-to-stop takedowns, claiming his veteran experience sets him apart. He highlighted his 12-year UFC tenure and 23rd fight in the promotion, noting only three opponents were unranked. Sterling demanded respect as the next title contender following his win at UFC Vegas 116.
Aljamain "Funk Master" Sterling used his post-fight microphone time at UFC Vegas 116 on April 26 to issue a direct challenge to both featherweight number-one contender Movsar Evloev and reigning champion Alexander Volkanovski, positioning himself as the division's most deserving title challenger.
Sterling, now 26-5 and ranked fourth in the featherweight division, made a pointed case for his credentials. The 36-year-old American out of Serra-Longo Fight Team pointed to his 12 years in the UFC and 23 promotional appearances as evidence of his durability and experience at the highest level. He stressed that the vast majority of those opponents were ranked competition, underscoring the quality of his resume. Sterling also drew attention to his fighting style — a blend of volume striking and hard-to-defend takedowns — with his numbers backing the claim: he lands 4.45 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy while averaging 2.45 takedowns per 15 minutes.
The two men he called out present formidable opposition. Evloev, the 32-year-old Russian based out of American Top Team, enters the conversation with a perfect 20-0 professional record and the number-one contender ranking. He averages an impressive 4.78 takedowns per 15 minutes, which would set up an intriguing grappling chess match against Sterling. Volkanovski, meanwhile, holds the featherweight title and sits third in the pound-for-pound rankings at 37 years old. The Australian carries a 28-4 record and leads all three fighters in striking output, landing nearly six significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Sterling's callout puts pressure on UFC matchmakers to define the featherweight title picture after his ranked win
- A Sterling versus Evloev matchup would pit the division's top contender against a surging veteran with comparable grappling credentials
- Volkanovski's pound-for-pound status means any title challenger must clear a historically high bar
