Following his victory at UFC Vegas 116, Aljamain Sterling stated his championship ambitions while acknowledging Movsar Evloev's credentials. Sterling said that Evloev deserves a title fight but made it clear he would not turn down the opportunity if it were offered to him instead. The post included a poll asking whether Sterling deserves a fight with Alexander Volkanovski, with options to support him getting the shot immediately or only after Evloev. The statement reflects Sterling's positioning in the featherweight title picture.
Aljamain Sterling made his featherweight title ambitions clear following his win at UFC Vegas 116, acknowledging that Movsar Evloev has earned a shot at the belt while stopping short of stepping aside to let it happen.
Sterling, known as "Funk Master," holds a 26-5 record and sits fourth in the featherweight rankings at 36 years old. The American fighter out of Serra-Longo Fight Team stands five-foot-seven with a 71-inch reach and has been one of the more active strikers in the division, landing 4.45 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy. He also contributes 2.45 takedowns per 15 minutes and averages 0.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes, reflecting his well-rounded game. His comments after Vegas 116 came alongside a fan poll gauging whether he deserves an immediate title shot against champion Alexander Volkanovski or should wait until after Evloev gets his opportunity.
Evloev, meanwhile, stands as the top-ranked featherweight contender and carries a perfect 20-0 record into the equation. The 32-year-old Russian, who trains out of American Top Team, is a five-foot-seven orthodox fighter with a 72-inch reach. His numbers paint a picture of a relentless pressure fighter, averaging 4.78 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 3.91 significant strikes per minute at 47 percent accuracy.
Volkanovski, ranked third pound-for-pound and holding a 28-4 record, remains the featherweight champion at 37. The Australian leads the division in striking output at 5.99 significant strikes per minute with a 57 percent accuracy rate.
Why it matters
- Evloev is the top-ranked contender at 145 pounds with an unblemished record, giving him a strong case for the next title shot.
- Sterling's win at Vegas 116 pushes him back into the conversation from the fourth-ranked spot.
- A decision between the two contenders will shape the immediate future of the featherweight title picture around Volkanovski.
