Aljamain Sterling disclosed that he came close to being finished by a guillotine choke from Youssef Zalal during their recent fight. Sterling admitted that he thought he was about to lose consciousness during the submission attempt but refused to tap out. The former bantamweight champion explained that he couldn't allow Zalal the satisfaction of making him submit. Sterling's determination not to tap meant he was willing to go unconscious rather than concede defeat. The revelation highlights the intensity of their grappling exchange and Sterling's mental toughness. Despite the dangerous moment, Sterling survived the submission attempt and continued fighting.
Aljamain Sterling has revealed he came alarmingly close to being put to sleep by Youssef Zalal during their recent featherweight bout, publicly admitting he believed he was on the verge of losing consciousness inside a guillotine choke before ultimately refusing to surrender.
Sterling, known as "Funk Master," carries a 26-5-0 record and sits ranked fourth in the featherweight division. The 36-year-old American, who trains out of Serra-Longo Fight Team, is a former bantamweight champion who has made a career of his grappling pedigree. He averages 4.45 significant strikes per minute with 52 percent accuracy, and his submission threat is ever-present even if he attempts them at a relatively modest rate of 0.6 per 15 minutes.
Zalal, nicknamed "The Moroccan Devil," enters his own record at 18-6-1 and sits 12th in the featherweight rankings. The 29-year-old, who fights out of Factory X, is a credible submission threat, averaging 1.4 submission attempts per 15 minutes — more than double Sterling's rate — along with 2.17 takedowns per 15 minutes. Those numbers make the near-finish far from surprising given his grappling output.
Sterling disclosed that his refusal to tap was rooted in pride and competitive defiance, explaining that he simply could not give Zalal the satisfaction of forcing a submission. He acknowledged he was willing to go unconscious rather than concede the tap, a mindset that underscores the mental resolve that has defined much of his career.
Why it matters
- Sterling's survival of a deep guillotine from a submission-active opponent speaks to his championship-level composure under pressure
- The revelation adds context to what was clearly a closely contested grappling exchange between two technical fighters
- At ranked fourth in featherweight, Sterling's ability to withstand moments like this has direct implications for his divisional standing and future title contention
