Aljamain Sterling disclosed that he came close to being defeated by a guillotine choke from Youssef Zalal during their bout. Sterling admitted he thought he was going to lose consciousness because he refused to submit. He explained that he would rather pass out than give Zalal the satisfaction of making him tap. The former bantamweight champion's comments reveal the mental determination that kept him in the fight despite being in serious danger. Sterling's willingness to risk unconsciousness rather than tap demonstrates the competitive pride that drives elite fighters, even in moments of extreme peril.
Aljamain Sterling has revealed he nearly lost consciousness during his bout with Youssef Zalal after refusing to tap to a guillotine choke that had him in serious trouble. The former bantamweight champion disclosed in a recent interview that he genuinely believed he was moments away from passing out, but made a deliberate choice to risk going to sleep rather than give Zalal the satisfaction of forcing a tapout.
Sterling, now competing at featherweight, carries a 26-5-0 record and sits ranked fourth in the division. The 36-year-old from New York trains out of Serra-Longo Fight Team and has built his reputation as one of the sport's most technically versatile fighters. He lands 4.45 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy and averages 2.45 takedowns per 15 minutes, numbers that reflect both his offensive output and grappling threat.
Zalal, known as "The Moroccan Devil," entered the fight with an 18-6-1 record and holds the 12th ranking in the featherweight division. The 29-year-old trains out of Factory X and has shown consistent submission activity throughout his career, averaging 1.4 submission attempts per 15 minutes alongside 2.17 takedowns per 15 minutes. His guillotine nearly ended the night for Sterling, underscoring just how dangerous the switch-stance striker can be on the ground.
Why it matters
- Sterling's candid admission highlights the margin by which the fight's outcome could have swung in a different direction
- Zalal's submission threat at 1.4 attempts per 15 minutes proved a genuine danger even against an elite grappler like Sterling
- The revelation adds weight to Sterling's standing as a top-four featherweight contender willing to endure extreme adversity to stay competitive
- Both fighters occupy meaningful positions in a featherweight division where every ranked result shifts the contender picture
