After 23 UFC bouts, Aljamain Sterling holds an 18-5 record, placing him third all-time in win percentage behind only Jon Jones (22-1) and Donald Cerrone (19-4). The analysis argues that Sterling's achievements, including championship reigns in two weight classes and victories over elite opponents like Petr Yan and Henry Cejudo, warrant recognition as an outstanding fighter. The post re-evaluated Sterling's controversial split decision victory over Yan, concluding it was correctly scored 3-2 in Sterling's favor. Sterling's recent move to featherweight, where he has defeated three ranked opponents despite being past his prime, further solidifies his legacy. The author suggests that one more victory could place Sterling among the sport's greats, and two more could establish him as an absolute legend.
Aljamain Sterling's place among the UFC's all-time greats has been thrust into the spotlight, with a fresh statistical analysis of his 23-fight UFC career painting a compelling portrait of one of the sport's most accomplished competitors.
Sterling, nicknamed "Funk Master," currently sits at 26-5-0 overall and holds the number-four ranking in the featherweight division. The 36-year-old American, who trains out of Serra-Longo Fight Team, brings a well-rounded skill set to the cage, averaging 4.45 significant strikes landed per minute at a 52 percent accuracy rate, while also threatening with 2.45 takedowns per 15 minutes and 0.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
The analysis places Sterling third all-time in UFC win percentage among fighters with at least 23 bouts, sitting behind only Jon Jones and Donald Cerrone in that metric. Central to the argument are his championship reigns across two weight classes and signature wins over elite opponents. His split decision victory over Petr Yan was re-examined and judged correctly scored three rounds to two in Sterling's favor. His win over Henry Cejudo — now ranked ninth at bantamweight at 39 years old with a 16-6-0 record — also features prominently as evidence of Sterling's ability to beat the best.
Since moving to featherweight, Sterling has continued to compete against ranked opposition despite, by the analysis's own framing, being on the back end of his prime.
Why it matters
- Sterling's win-percentage ranking places his UFC tenure alongside the most efficient careers the promotion has ever seen
- His featherweight run, with victories over ranked opponents, keeps him relevant in a stacked 145-pound division that includes unbeaten number-one contender Movsar Evloev
- The analysis suggests one or two more significant victories could cement his standing as an all-time legend, raising the stakes for his upcoming bouts considerably
