After 23 fights in the UFC, Aljamain Sterling holds an 18-5 record, giving him the third-best win percentage in UFC history at this stage of a career. Only Jon Jones (22-1) and Donald Cerrone (19-4) had better records after 23 UFC bouts. Sterling's win percentage surpasses legends like Robert Whittaker, Jose Aldo, Max Holloway, Anderson Silva, and Chuck Liddell at the same career point. The analysis argues that Sterling's victories over elite opponents like Petr Yan and Henry Cejudo represent historic achievements, with Yan described as a top-10 talent in the sport's history. Sterling is positioned as being one win away from greatness and two wins from absolute legendary status if he can capture the featherweight title.
Aljamain Sterling has carved out a place among the most accomplished fighters in UFC history through 23 appearances in the promotion, finishing with an 18-5 record that gives him the third-best win percentage at that career milestone of any athlete to compete under the banner.
Only two fighters managed a better mark through their first 23 UFC bouts. Jon Jones, now 38 and holding a career record of 28-1, went 22-1 at the same stage, while Donald Cerrone, now 43 and sitting at 36-17 overall, posted a 19-4 mark. Sterling's percentage at that point surpasses where legends such as Anderson Silva, Jose Aldo, Robert Whittaker, Max Holloway, and Chuck Liddell stood in their own UFC careers through fight number 23.
The analysis underpinning the ranking places particular weight on the quality of Sterling's opposition. His victories over Petr Yan and Henry Cejudo — who currently sits ninth in the bantamweight rankings at 39 years old and carries a record of 16-6 — are cited as benchmarks for elite-level achievement, with Yan described in the analysis as a top-10 talent in the sport's entire history.
Why it matters
- Sterling's 18-5 UFC record through 23 fights places him in historically rare company, behind only Jones and Cerrone at the same career point
- Wins over Yan and Cejudo give the résumé a degree of difficulty that reinforces the statistical standing
- The analysis frames a featherweight title run as the remaining variable in determining where Sterling ultimately lands among the all-time greats, with one title capture seen as pushing him into greatness and two into legendary territory
