Aljamain Sterling's UFC record ranks among all-time greats after 23 fights

After 23 UFC fights, Aljamain Sterling holds an 18-5 record, placing him among the most successful fighters in promotional history at that milestone. Only Jon Jones (22-1) and Donald Cerrone (19-4) had better records after their first 23 UFC appearances. Sterling matches Dustin Poirier and Matt Hughes at 18-5, and his winning percentage surpasses UFC legends including Robert Whittaker, Sean Strickland, Jose Aldo, Max Holloway, Anderson Silva, and Chuck Liddell at the same career point. The analysis argues Sterling's accomplishments—including title defenses and victories over elite opponents like Petr Yan and Henry Cejudo—establish him as an outstanding fighter despite sometimes being underappreciated. The piece also discusses his recent victory over Zalal at featherweight and potential future matchups with top 145-pounders like Movsar Evloev, Diego Lopes, or Ilia Topuria.