Following his victory at UFC Vegas 116, Aljamain Sterling declared his championship ambitions in the featherweight division. Sterling stated that Movsar Evloev deserves a title shot, but he would not turn down the opportunity if it were offered to him. The post asks whether Sterling deserves a fight with Alexander Volkanovski. Sterling's comments suggest he sees himself as a legitimate title contender despite acknowledging Evloev's claim. The post indicates Sterling is positioning himself for a high-profile fight next.
Aljamain Sterling made clear his featherweight title ambitions following his victory at UFC Vegas 116, publicly acknowledging that Movsar Evloev deserves the next shot at the belt while simultaneously stating he would not turn it down if the opportunity came his way.
Sterling, known as "Funk Master," holds a 26-5 record and is currently ranked fourth in the featherweight division. The 36-year-old American, who trains out of Serra-Longo Fight Team, has made a seamless transition into the 145-pound class. He stands five-foot-seven with a 71-inch reach and lands 4.45 significant strikes per minute at a 52 percent accuracy rate, making him one of the sharper offensive fighters in the division.
The man Sterling acknowledged as the rightful number-one contender is Evloev, an undefeated Russian fighter out of American Top Team. Evloev carries a perfect 20-0 record and holds the top featherweight ranking at 32 years old. He is a dangerous grappler, averaging 4.78 takedowns per 15 minutes, and adds consistent striking output at 3.91 significant strikes per minute.
Standing between both men and a title shot is featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. "The Great" holds a 28-4 record and is ranked third pound-for-pound in the UFC at 37 years old. The Australian champion is one of the most accurate strikers in the sport, connecting at 57 percent and landing nearly six significant strikes per minute.
Why it matters
- Evloev's perfect record and number-one ranking give him the strongest claim to the next title shot
- Sterling's win at UFC Vegas 116 pushes him into the conversation at fourth in the division
- A potential Sterling-Evloev fight to determine the mandatory challenger is a logical next step
- Volkanovski's status as a pound-for-pound top-three fighter makes any title challenger face enormous scrutiny
