Aljamain Sterling has made clear his championship ambitions following his win at UFC Vegas 116. Sterling stated that Movsar Evloev deserves a title shot, but he would not turn down the opportunity if it came his way. The post asks whether Sterling deserves a fight with Alexander Volkanovski, with options suggesting either yes or only after Evloev gets his shot. Sterling appears ready to compete for the title at featherweight.
Aljamain Sterling wasted no time making his intentions known after picking up a victory at UFC Vegas 116, publicly declaring that a featherweight title shot is something he would not pass up if the opportunity presented itself.
Sterling, known as "Funk Master," enters the conversation at 26-5-0 and currently sits fourth in the featherweight rankings. The 36-year-old American, who trains out of Serra-Longo Fight Team, has looked sharp since his move to 145 pounds. He lands 4.45 significant strikes per minute at a 52 percent accuracy rate, and adds a grappling dimension with 2.45 takedowns per 15 minutes and 0.6 submission attempts in the same window.
Sterling acknowledged that Movsar Evloev deserves the next crack at the belt, though he made clear he would not decline if the title came his way first. Evloev holds the number-one contender spot at featherweight with a perfect 20-0-0 record. The 32-year-old Russian, fighting out of American Top Team, is a relentless wrestler who averages 4.78 takedowns per 15 minutes, giving him one of the more punishing styles in the division.
Standing between either man and gold is featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. "The Great" carries a 28-4-0 record and ranks third on the pound-for-pound list. The 37-year-old Australian leads the featherweight division in significant strikes landed per minute at 5.99 with a 57 percent accuracy rate, underscoring why the title picture at 145 remains one of the most competitive in the sport.
Why it matters
- Sterling's win at UFC Vegas 116 pushes him directly into the title conversation despite sitting fourth in the rankings
- Evloev's undefeated record and top contender status means any queue-jumping by Sterling would be controversial
- A potential Sterling versus Volkanovski matchup pits two orthodox fighters of identical reach against each other, with the champion holding a clear striking edge on paper
