Aljamain Sterling revealed he came close to being finished by a guillotine choke from Youssef Zalal in their recent fight. Sterling stated he thought to himself that he was about to pass out because he refused to submit. He explained he couldn't allow Zalal the satisfaction of making him tap out. Sterling's comments highlight his competitive mentality and willingness to risk losing consciousness rather than tapping. The guillotine appears to have been a significant moment of danger during their bout.
Aljamain Sterling has opened up about a harrowing moment in his recent bout with Youssef Zalal, revealing he came within seconds of losing consciousness rather than concede a tap to a guillotine choke.
Sterling, known as "Funk Master," admitted that during the submission attempt he genuinely believed he was about to pass out. Despite that, the 36-year-old refused to submit, explaining that he could not give Zalal the satisfaction of making him tap. It was a revealing glimpse into the competitive psychology of a fighter who has built a career around grappling excellence.
Sterling carries a 26-5-0 record and sits ranked fourth in the featherweight division. Fighting out of the Serra-Longo Fight Team, the five-foot-seven orthodox fighter has developed into one of the busiest strikers at 145 pounds, landing 4.45 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy. He also averages 2.45 takedowns per 15 minutes, underlining just how well-rounded his game has become since dropping to featherweight.
Zalal, nicknamed "The Moroccan Devil," enters the record books at 18-6-1 and sits ranked 12th in the featherweight division. The 29-year-old switch-stance fighter out of Factory X stands five-foot-ten with a 72-inch reach and has shown a willingness to mix his game, averaging 2.17 takedowns and 1.4 submission attempts per 15 minutes. His 50 percent striking accuracy and 3.03 significant strikes landed per minute show he is capable of threatening opponents in multiple areas.
Why it matters
- Sterling's near-finish highlights real danger at the featherweight level even for top-four-ranked contenders
- Zalal's submission threat — averaging 1.4 attempts per 15 minutes — proved credible against elite opposition
- The moment underscores the competitive stakes in a featherweight division where rankings implications hang on every round
