Aljamain Sterling's win rate after 23 UFC fights ranks third all-time

After 23 fights in the UFC, Aljamain Sterling holds an 18-5 record, ranking him third in win percentage among fighters at that stage of their UFC careers. Only Jon Jones (22-1) and Donald Cerrone (19-4) had better records. Sterling matches the records of Dustin Poirier and Matt Hughes at the same point. The analysis argues Sterling deserves recognition as an outstanding fighter, with wins over elite opponents like Petr Yan and Henry Cejudo. The post includes detailed round-by-round analysis of Sterling's rematch with Yan, defending the 3-2 split decision. It also discusses Sterling's recent victory over Zalal and suggests potential future matchups against Silva or Lopes as title eliminator bouts.