After 23 fights in the UFC, Aljamain Sterling holds an 18-5 record, placing him among the elite in terms of winning percentage at that career stage. Only Jon Jones (22-1) and Donald Cerrone (19-4) had better records after 23 UFC fights. Sterling's winning percentage surpasses legendary fighters including Robert Whittaker, Sean Strickland, Jose Aldo, Max Holloway, Anderson Silva, Demian Maia, Chuck Liddell, and Junior dos Santos at the same career point. The analysis argues Sterling's achievements, including title defenses and victories over elite opponents like Petr Yan and Henry Cejudo, warrant recognition as an outstanding fighter. His success across two competitive weight classes over 12 years demonstrates consistent excellence, with the post suggesting he is one victory away from great status and two from legendary status.
A statistical breakdown of Aljamain Sterling's UFC career places him in rare company, with his 18-5 record through 23 promotional bouts ranking among the best winning percentages at that career stage in UFC history.
According to the analysis, only Jon Jones and Donald Cerrone posted better records after their first 23 UFC appearances. Jones, now 38, carries a current overall record of 28-1 and remains one of the most accomplished fighters in promotional history, standing six-foot-four with an 84-inch reach and connecting on 58 percent of his significant strikes. Cerrone's 19-4 mark through 23 fights edges Sterling's tally by one win.
The study also finds that Sterling's winning percentage at the 23-fight mark surpasses where several celebrated veterans stood at the same point in their UFC runs, including Sean Strickland, who currently holds a 31-7 record and reigns as Middleweight champion, as well as Jose Aldo, Max Holloway, Anderson Silva, Robert Whittaker, Demian Maia, Chuck Liddell, and Junior dos Santos.
The argument put forward is that Sterling's body of work — which includes title defenses at bantamweight, victories over Petr Yan and Henry Cejudo, and competitive appearances across two weight classes over a twelve-year UFC tenure — merits broader recognition as the resume of an elite fighter. Cejudo, a 39-year-old former champion currently ranked ninth at bantamweight, brought significant credentials into their matchup, lending weight to that victory's place on Sterling's record.
Why it matters
- Sterling's 78.3 percent win rate through 23 UFC bouts trails only Jones among fighters measured in the analysis
- Wins over Yan and Cejudo represent victories over former champions, strengthening the quality-of-opposition argument
- The piece frames Sterling as approaching all-time great status within the bantamweight division's historical hierarchy
