Aljamain Sterling issued a bold statement following his win at UFC Vegas 116, calling out both Movsar Evloev and Alexander Volkanovski. Sterling emphasized his unique fighting style, mixing attacks and using difficult-to-stop takedowns backed by veteran experience. He claimed he knows when to push forward and when to back off strategically. Sterling demanded a title shot, noting he has been with the UFC for 12 years and that UFC Vegas 116 was his 23rd fight in the promotion, with only three of those against unranked opponents. He insisted he deserves respect as the next title contender.
Aljamain Sterling made his intentions clear at UFC Vegas 116, calling out featherweight number-one contender Movsar Evloev and champion Alexander Volkanovski after securing his latest victory inside the promotion.
Sterling, known as "Funk Master," carries a 26-5 record and sits fourth in the featherweight rankings. The 36-year-old American trains out of Serra-Longo Fight Team and has built a reputation for a layered offensive approach — averaging 4.45 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy while also threatening with takedowns at a rate of 2.45 per 15 minutes and 0.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes. He pointed to his 12 years inside the UFC and stressed that UFC Vegas 116 marked his 23rd appearance in the promotion, with only three of those bouts coming against unranked competition. Sterling argued that track record makes him the rightful next title contender.
Standing across the callout is Evloev, the unbeaten Russian who sits at number one in the featherweight division with a perfect 20-0 record. The 32-year-old, who trains out of American Top Team, is a persistent pressure fighter who lands 3.91 significant strikes per minute and averages an imposing 4.78 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him one of the division's most dangerous grapplers.
Sterling also named featherweight champion Volkanovski as an alternative target. "The Great" holds a 28-4 record and ranks third on the pound-for-pound list. The 37-year-old Australian leads the division in striking output at 5.99 significant strikes per minute with a sharp 57 percent accuracy rate, numbers that reflect his status as one of the sport's elite fighters.
Why it matters
- Sterling's callout targets both the division's top-ranked contender and its reigning champion, putting him squarely in title contention conversation.
- A Sterling versus Evloev matchup would pit two contrasting grappling-heavy styles against each other, with Evloev's takedown volume facing Sterling's submission threat.
- Sterling's veteran résumé — 23 UFC appearances, mostly against ranked opposition — strengthens his case for a marquee assignment next.
