Sterling reveals he nearly lost consciousness in Zalal guillotine

Aljamain Sterling disclosed in a recent interview that he came close to being finished by a guillotine choke from Youssef Zalal during their bout. Sterling admitted he thought he was about to lose consciousness but refused to tap out. He explained that he could not allow Zalal the satisfaction of making him submit, choosing instead to risk going unconscious rather than concede defeat. The former bantamweight champion's remarks highlight the mental toughness required at the highest level of MMA. Details on when and where this specific exchange occurred are limited in the original post.