Following his victory at UFC Vegas 116, Aljamain Sterling made a passionate statement targeting Movsar Evloev and Alexander Volkanovski. Sterling emphasized his unique fighting style, mixing attacks with difficult-to-stop takedowns and veteran experience. He highlighted his 12-year tenure with the UFC spanning 23 fights, of which only three were against unranked opponents. Sterling demanded respect as the next title contender and told everyone else to step aside.
Aljamain Sterling wasted no time after his victory at UFC Vegas 116, calling out featherweight number-one contender Movsar Evloev and champion Alexander Volkanovski as he made his case for the next title shot.
Sterling, known as "Funk Master," carries a 26-5 record and sits ranked fourth in the featherweight division. The 36-year-old American, who trains out of Serra-Longo Fight Team, pointed to his 12-year UFC tenure spanning 23 fights — with only three coming against unranked opposition — as evidence of his elite-level pedigree. He lands 4.45 significant strikes per minute at a 52 percent accuracy rate and averages 2.45 takedowns per 15 minutes, backing up his claim of a uniquely difficult style to neutralize.
Standing in his path, at least rhetorically, is Evloev, the undefeated Russian who holds the number-one ranking at featherweight. The 32-year-old American Top Team product owns a perfect 20-0 record and is one of the division's most active grapplers, averaging 4.78 takedowns per 15 minutes. At five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach, the orthodox striker also connects at 47 percent accuracy with 3.91 significant strikes landed per minute.
At the top of the division sits Volkanovski, "The Great," who holds both the featherweight title and the number-three pound-for-pound ranking. The 37-year-old Australian is the division's most prolific striker by volume, landing 5.99 significant strikes per minute at a 57 percent clip. His 28-4 record speaks for itself, and his 71-inch reach matches Sterling's exactly at five-foot-six.
Why it matters
- Sterling's callout puts pressure on featherweight matchmakers with the division's top contender picture still unsettled
- A Sterling vs. Evloev matchup would pit two elite grapplers against each other, with contrasting records and complementary skill sets
- Volkanovski's next defense remains open, and Sterling's vocal push adds another credible name to the conversation
