After 23 UFC fights, Aljamain Sterling holds an 18-5 record, placing him among the most successful fighters in company history at that career milestone. Only Jon Jones (22-1) and Donald Cerrone (19-4) had better records after 23 UFC bouts. Sterling's winning percentage surpasses legendary fighters including Robert Whittaker, Jose Aldo, Max Holloway, Anderson Silva, and others at the same career point. The post argues that Sterling's accomplishments, including victories over elite opponents like Petr Yan and Henry Cejudo, establish him as an outstanding fighter who deserves recognition alongside UFC greats. His recent victory over a strong opponent further solidifies his status despite being past his prime.
Aljamain Sterling has quietly assembled one of the most impressive records in UFC history through his first 23 fights, finishing that stretch with an 18-5 mark that puts him in elite company by any historical measure.
Only two fighters have posted a better record after 23 UFC bouts. Jon Jones, widely regarded as the greatest of all time, went 22-1 across his first 23 appearances. The 38-year-old heavyweight stands six-foot-four with an 84-inch reach and lands 4.38 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 58 percent — numbers that reflect a generational talent. Donald Cerrone, another benchmark name, went 19-4 through the same career window. The 43-year-old veteran lands 4.41 significant strikes per minute across his career and has averaged 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes, underscoring the well-rounded game that made him a fan favourite for over a decade.
Sterling's 18-5 record edges out the win percentages that legends such as Robert Whittaker, Jose Aldo, Max Holloway, and Anderson Silva posted at the identical career milestone. His résumé through those 23 fights includes victories over bantamweight rivals Petr Yan and Henry Cejudo. Cejudo, ranked ninth at bantamweight at 39 years old, is a former two-division champion whose 47 percent striking accuracy and 1.84 takedowns per 15 minutes speak to the quality of opposition Sterling has faced and beaten.
Why it matters
- Sterling's 18-5 record through 23 UFC bouts surpasses the win percentage of multiple Hall of Fame-calibre fighters at the same career stage
- Wins over Yan and Cejudo, a decorated former champion, anchor his credentials against elite bantamweight competition
- The comparison to Jones and Cerrone frames Sterling as a historically significant figure in UFC bantamweight history rather than simply a divisional champion
