An analysis argues that Aljamain Sterling deserves recognition as an outstanding fighter based on his 18-5 record after 23 UFC bouts. Only Jon Jones (22-1) and Donald Cerrone (19-4) had better winning percentages at the same career point. Sterling's percentage matches Dustin Poirier and Matt Hughes, and exceeds legends like Robert Whittaker, Jose Aldo, Max Holloway, Anderson Silva, and Chuck Liddell. The piece contends Sterling's victories over Petr Yan and Henry Cejudo are historically significant, with Yan described as a top-10 talent in the sport's history. A detailed breakdown of the second Yan fight argues the 3-2 split decision for Sterling was correct. The analysis suggests Sterling is one victory away from "great" status and two from "absolute legend" status if he can defeat top featherweights.
A recent analytical piece makes the case that Aljamain Sterling belongs in the conversation among the UFC's all-time greats, pointing to his 18-5 record through his first 23 octagon appearances as a benchmark that holds up against some of the sport's most celebrated names.
The argument centers on winning percentage at that career milestone. According to the analysis, only Jon Jones at 22-1 and Donald Cerrone at 19-4 posted better records through 23 UFC fights. Sterling's mark at that point matched Dustin Poirier and Matt Hughes, and placed him ahead of Robert Whittaker, Jose Aldo, Max Holloway, Anderson Silva, and Chuck Liddell at the same stage.
Sterling, now 36 years old and currently ranked fourth in the featherweight division, carries an overall UFC record of 26-5 across his career. Fighting out of Serra-Longo Fight Team, the New York-based orthodox fighter stands five-foot-seven with a 71-inch reach and lands 4.45 significant strikes per minute at a 52 percent accuracy rate, supplemented by 2.45 takedowns per 15 minutes and 0.6 submission attempts in the same span.
The piece singles out Sterling's wins over Petr Yan and Henry Cejudo as historically significant. Cejudo, a 39-year-old former two-division champion currently ranked ninth at bantamweight, was considered a premier pound-for-pound talent at the time of their meeting. The analysis describes Yan as a top-10 fighter in the sport's history and defends the 3-2 split-decision outcome of their rematch as the correct verdict.
Why it matters
- The analysis frames Sterling as one win shy of undisputed "great" status in historical context
- Two victories over top featherweights, his current division, would elevate him to "absolute legend" standing by the piece's criteria
- At rank four in featherweight, Sterling's path to those wins runs through contenders such as number-one ranked Movsar Evloev, the unbeaten 20-0 Russian who averages 4.78 takedowns per 15 minutes
- The argument reframes how Sterling's bantamweight tenure is remembered, regardless of how his featherweight chapter unfolds
