Aljamain Sterling revealed that he came dangerously close to being choked unconscious by Youssef Zalal's guillotine choke during their bout at UFC 310. Sterling admitted that he thought he was about to pass out from the submission but refused to tap. He stated he could not allow Zalal the satisfaction of a tap-out victory. Sterling ultimately survived the submission attempt and went on to win the fight. The former bantamweight champion's comments highlight how close the fight came to ending in the first round.
Aljamain Sterling has opened up about a harrowing near-finish he survived during his featherweight bout against Youssef Zalal at UFC 310, admitting he came within moments of being choked unconscious before fighting his way out and eventually winning.
Sterling, known as "Funk Master," carries a 26-5-0 record and sits ranked fourth in the featherweight division. The 36-year-old Long Island native trains out of Serra-Longo Fight Team and is one of the most decorated fighters in the 145-pound weight class, having previously held the bantamweight title. He lands 4.45 significant strikes per minute at a 52 percent accuracy rate, and his grappling credentials are well established with 2.45 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Zalal, nicknamed "The Moroccan Devil," holds an 18-6-1 record and is ranked 12th in the featherweight division. The 29-year-old, who trains out of Factory X, has built a reputation as a constant submission threat, averaging 1.4 submission attempts per 15 minutes — a figure that makes the near-finish unsurprising in hindsight. He also contributes offensively on the feet, landing 3.03 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy.
Sterling stated he believed he was on the verge of passing out from Zalal's guillotine choke but refused to tap, saying he could not give Zalal the satisfaction of a submission victory. He ultimately survived the attempt and took the decision win.
Why it matters
- Sterling's admission underscores how dangerous Zalal remains even against elite opposition, despite his ranking of 12th in the division
- The near-finish raises questions about how the featherweight division's fourth-ranked fighter fares against submission specialists going forward
- With Sterling sitting at number four, his victories and near-defeats carry significant weight in a crowded and competitive 145-pound landscape
