“Funk Master” Featherweight
Aljamain Sterling
18-5-0
UFC record, 23 fights, 330.7 min
26-5-0
Pro record, all promotions, as ufcstats lists it
4-1
in 5 title fights
- Height
- 5'7"
- Reach
- 71"
- Weight
- 145 lb
- Stance
- Orthodox
- Born
- Mon, Jul 31, 1989, age 37
- First UFC fight
- Sat, Feb 22, 2014
- Latest UFC fight
- Sat, Apr 25, 2026
01/How he wins
in 18 wins
4 submissions (arm triangle from bottom guard, guillotine choke on ground, rear naked choke, suloev stretch from back control), 2 KO/TKO, 11 decisions, 1 other win in 18 wins
| How the fight ended | His wins | His losses |
|---|---|---|
| KO/TKO | 2 | 2 |
| Submission | 4 | 0 |
| Decision | 11 | 3 |
| DQ, overturned or other | 1 | 0 |
| All | 18 | 5 |
02/Career rates
23 fights, 330.7 min
Sig strikes landed
4.26 per min
1,407 in 330.7 min, 23 fights
Sig strike accuracy
52.6%
1,407 of 2,675 attempts
Sig strikes absorbed
2.15 per min
710 of 1,739 landed on him in 330.7 min
Takedowns
2.54 per 15 min
56 of 174 · 330.7 min
Takedown accuracy
32.2%
56 of 174 attempts
Takedown defence
22 of 49
defended of attempted on him, 330.7 min
Control time
4:58 per 15 min
109:33 of 330:40
Knockdowns
0
scored in 330.7 min, 23 fights
Submission attempts
0.64 per 15 min
14 in 330.7 min
Where his sig strikes land
67% distance, 15% clinch, 18% ground
941 distance, 209 clinch, 257 ground of 1,407 landed
What he hits
50% head, 31% body, 19% leg
703 head, 443 body, 261 leg of 1,407 landed
Cage time
330:40
23 fights, the minutes every rate above is counted in
03/Title fights
4-1 in 5
- Lv Sean O'MalleyBantamweight, title fight. Sat, Aug 19, 2023, UFC 292: Sterling vs. O'Malley. KO/TKO, R2 0:51
- Wv Henry CejudoBantamweight, title fight. Sat, May 6, 2023, UFC 288: Sterling vs. Cejudo. Split decision, R5 5:00
- Wv TJ DillashawBantamweight, title fight. Sat, Oct 22, 2022, UFC 280: Oliveira vs. Makhachev. KO/TKO, R2 3:44
- Wv Petr YanBantamweight, title fight. Sat, Apr 9, 2022, UFC 273: Volkanovski vs. The Korean Zombie. Split decision, R5 5:00
- Wv Petr YanBantamweight, title fight. Sat, Mar 6, 2021, UFC 259: Blachowicz vs. Adesanya. DQ, R4 4:29
04/By division
3 divisions
| Fights | Record | Min | Sig strikes | Per min | Takedowns | Control | KD | Finishes in wins | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bantamweight | 18 | 14-4-0 | 235.7 | 1,115 of 2,141 | 4.73 | 32 of 135 | 69:10 of 235:40 | 0 | 6 in 14 |
| Catch Weight | 2 | 2-0-0 | 40.0 | 195 of 348 | 4.88 | 4 of 7 | 9:35 of 40:00 | 0 | 0 in 2 |
| Featherweight | 3 | 2-1-0 | 55.0 | 97 of 186 | 1.76 | 20 of 32 | 30:48 of 55:00 | 0 | 0 in 2 |
| All | 23 | 18-5-0 | 330.7 | 1,407 of 2,675 | 4.26 | 56 of 174 | 109:33 of 330:40 | 0 | 6 in 18 |
05/By year
2014 to 2026
| Fights | Record | Min | Sig strikes | Per min | Takedowns | Control | KD | Finishes in wins | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 1-0-0 | 25.0 | 46 of 89 | 1.84 | 6 of 11 | 13:49 of 25:00 | 0 | 0 in 1 |
| 2025 | 1 | 1-0-0 | 25.0 | 124 of 227 | 4.96 | 3 of 6 | 3:55 of 25:00 | 0 | 0 in 1 |
| 2024 | 2 | 1-1-0 | 30.0 | 51 of 97 | 1.70 | 14 of 21 | 16:59 of 30:00 | 0 | 0 in 1 |
| 2023 | 2 | 1-1-0 | 30.9 | 152 of 245 | 4.93 | 4 of 17 | 4:34 of 30:51 | 0 | 0 in 1 |
| 2022 | 2 | 2-0-0 | 33.7 | 134 of 203 | 3.97 | 7 of 30 | 15:37 of 33:44 | 0 | 1 in 2 |
| 2021 | 1 | 1-0-0 | 19.5 | 97 of 230 | 4.98 | 1 of 17 | 3:25 of 19:29 | 0 | 0 in 1 |
| 2020 | 1 | 1-0-0 | 1.5 | 2 of 3 | 1.36 | 0 of 1 | 1:13 of 1:28 | 0 | 1 in 1 |
| 2019 | 2 | 2-0-0 | 30.0 | 275 of 525 | 9.17 | 0 of 14 | 2:44 of 30:00 | 0 | 0 in 2 |
| 2018 | 2 | 2-0-0 | 23.7 | 122 of 226 | 5.15 | 5 of 18 | 4:13 of 23:42 | 0 | 1 in 2 |
| 2017 | 4 | 2-2-0 | 46.1 | 209 of 464 | 4.53 | 3 of 10 | 11:42 of 46:07 | 0 | 0 in 2 |
| 2016 | 1 | 0-1-0 | 15.0 | 32 of 64 | 2.13 | 1 of 3 | 3:51 of 15:00 | 0 | 0 in 0 |
| 2015 | 2 | 2-0-0 | 21.5 | 55 of 115 | 2.56 | 5 of 17 | 11:03 of 21:29 | 0 | 2 in 2 |
| 2014 | 2 | 2-0-0 | 28.8 | 108 of 187 | 3.75 | 7 of 9 | 16:28 of 28:50 | 0 | 1 in 2 |
| All | 23 | 18-5-0 | 330.7 | 1,407 of 2,675 | 4.26 | 56 of 174 | 109:33 of 330:40 | 0 | 6 in 18 |
A career line lumps every year together, and a fighter’s 2014 does not describe his 2026. Each year here is the same count over that year’s fights alone, with its own minutes, so it can be read against the career line beneath it.
06/By round
in the fights that reached it
| Fights reached | Min in it | Sig strikes | Per min | Takedowns | Control | KD | Sub att | Ended here | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | 23 of 23 | 107.6 | 389 of 806 | 3.62 | 18 of 50 | 35:28 of 107:35 | 0 | 6 | 2, won 1 |
| Round 2 | 21 of 23 | 97.6 | 483 of 883 | 4.95 | 18 of 50 | 34:01 of 97:35 | 0 | 3 | 4, won 3 |
| Round 3 | 17 of 23 | 81.0 | 361 of 694 | 4.46 | 14 of 43 | 25:52 of 81:01 | 0 | 4 | 12, won 9 |
| Round 4 | 5 of 23 | 24.5 | 109 of 185 | 4.45 | 3 of 14 | 6:38 of 24:29 | 0 | 1 | 1, won 1 |
| Round 5 | 4 of 23 | 20.0 | 65 of 107 | 3.25 | 3 of 17 | 7:34 of 20:00 | 0 | 0 | 4, won 4 |
Round length is read from each fight’s round format, so a 12-minute opening round from 1995 counts its twelve minutes. A round is counted only for the fights that reached it; the first column is the denominator for the rest of the row.
07/Fight log
23 fights, newest first
| Date | Opponent | Result | Sig strikes | Takedowns | Control | KD | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Apr 25, 2026UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs. Zalal | Youssef ZalalFeatherweight | WUnanimous decision, R5 5:00Mike Bell 45 - 49. Derek Cleary 45 - 49. Sal D'amato 45 - 49. | 46 of 89 | 6 of 11 | 13:49 | 0 | 25:00 | Rounds |
| Sat, Aug 23, 2025UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Zhang | Brian OrtegaCatch Weight | WUnanimous decision, R5 5:00Ben Cartlidge 45 - 50. David Lethaby 45 - 50. Vito Paolillo 45 - 50. | 124 of 227 | 3 of 6 | 3:55 | 0 | 25:00 | Rounds |
| Sat, Dec 7, 2024UFC 310: Pantoja vs. Asakura | Movsar EvloevFeatherweight | LUnanimous decision, R3 5:00Ben Cartlidge 28 - 29. Derek Cleary 28 - 29. Sal D'amato 28 - 29. | 12 of 26 | 6 of 8 | 6:16 | 0 | 15:00 | Rounds |
| Sat, Apr 13, 2024UFC 300: Pereira vs. Hill | Calvin KattarFeatherweight | WUnanimous decision, R3 5:00Ben Cartlidge 27 - 30. Sal D'amato 27 - 30. Ron McCarthy 27 - 30. | 39 of 71 | 8 of 13 | 10:43 | 0 | 15:00 | Rounds |
| Sat, Aug 19, 2023UFC 292: Sterling vs. O'Malley | Sean O'MalleyBantamweight, title fight | LKO/TKO, R2 0:51Punches to Head On Ground | 17 of 35 | 0 of 2 | 0:34 | 0 | 5:51 | Rounds |
| Sat, May 6, 2023UFC 288: Sterling vs. Cejudo | Henry CejudoBantamweight, title fight | WSplit decision, R5 5:00Derek Cleary 47 - 48. Mike Bell 48 - 47. Eric Colon 47 - 48. | 135 of 210 | 4 of 15 | 4:00 | 0 | 25:00 | Rounds |
| Sat, Oct 22, 2022UFC 280: Oliveira vs. Makhachev | TJ DillashawBantamweight, title fight | WKO/TKO, R2 3:44Punches to Head From Back Control | 72 of 93 | 5 of 8 | 7:06 | 0 | 8:44 | Rounds |
| Sat, Apr 9, 2022UFC 273: Volkanovski vs. The Korean Zombie | Petr YanBantamweight, title fight | WSplit decision, R5 5:00Sal D'amato 47 - 48. Chris Lee 48 - 47. Eliseo Rodriguez 47 - 48. | 62 of 110 | 2 of 22 | 8:31 | 0 | 25:00 | Rounds |
| Sat, Mar 6, 2021UFC 259: Blachowicz vs. Adesanya | Petr YanBantamweight, title fight | WDQ, R4 4:29Illegal Knee to Grounded Opponent | 97 of 230 | 1 of 17 | 3:25 | 0 | 19:29 | Rounds |
| Sat, Jun 6, 2020UFC 250: Nunes vs. Spencer | Cory SandhagenBantamweight | WSubmission, R1 1:28Rear Naked Choke | 2 of 3 | 0 of 1 | 1:13 | 0 | 1:28 | Rounds |
| Sat, Jun 8, 2019UFC 238: Cejudo vs. Moraes | Pedro MunhozBantamweight | WUnanimous decision, R3 5:00Gabriel Sabaitis 27 - 30. Ron McCarthy 27 - 30. Brian Puccillo 27 - 30. | 174 of 349 | 0 of 7 | 0:00 | 0 | 15:00 | Rounds |
| Sun, Feb 17, 2019UFC Fight Night: Ngannou vs. Velasquez | Jimmie RiveraBantamweight | WUnanimous decision, R3 5:00Chris Lee 27 - 30. Mike Bell 27 - 30. Chris Flores 27 - 30. | 101 of 176 | 0 of 7 | 2:44 | 0 | 15:00 | Rounds |
| Sat, Sep 8, 2018UFC 228: Woodley vs. Till | Cody StamannBantamweight | WSubmission, R2 3:42Suloev Stretch From Back Control | 33 of 74 | 2 of 9 | 2:52 | 0 | 8:42 | Rounds |
| Sat, Apr 21, 2018UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Lee | Brett JohnsBantamweight | WUnanimous decision, R3 5:00Derek Cleary 27 - 30. Cardo Urso 27 - 30. Dave Tirelli 27 - 30. | 89 of 152 | 3 of 9 | 1:21 | 0 | 15:00 | Rounds |
| Sat, Dec 9, 2017UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Ortega | Marlon MoraesBantamweight | LKO/TKO, R1 1:07Knee to Head At Distance | 3 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 0:00 | 0 | 1:07 | Rounds |
| Sat, Jul 29, 2017UFC 214: Cormier vs. Jones 2 | Renan BaraoCatch Weight | WUnanimous decision, R3 5:00Wade Vierra 28 - 29. Derek Cleary 27 - 29. Marcos Rosales 26 - 30. | 71 of 121 | 1 of 1 | 5:40 | 0 | 15:00 | Rounds |
| Sat, Apr 15, 2017UFC on FOX: Johnson vs. Reis | Augusto MendesBantamweight | WUnanimous decision, R3 5:00Cardo Urso 28 - 29. Sal D'amato 28 - 29. Marcos Rosales 28 - 29. | 83 of 161 | 2 of 6 | 6:00 | 0 | 15:00 | Rounds |
| Sat, Jan 28, 2017UFC on FOX: Shevchenko vs. Pena | Raphael AssuncaoBantamweight | LSplit decision, R3 5:00Hale Hilsabeck 28 - 29. Ben Ramirez 29 - 28. Ron Mann 28 - 29. | 52 of 172 | 0 of 3 | 0:02 | 0 | 15:00 | Rounds |
| Sun, May 29, 2016UFC Fight Night: Almeida vs Garbrandt | Bryan CarawayBantamweight | LSplit decision, R3 5:00Tony Weeks 28 - 29. Adalaide Byrd 29 - 28. Dave Hagen 28 - 29. | 32 of 64 | 1 of 3 | 3:51 | 0 | 15:00 | Rounds |
| Thu, Dec 10, 2015UFC Fight Night: Namajunas vs. VanZant | Johnny EduardoBantamweight | WSubmission, R2 4:18Guillotine Choke On Ground | 23 of 61 | 2 of 2 | 3:28 | 0 | 9:18 | Rounds |
| Sat, Apr 18, 2015UFC on FOX: Machida vs Rockhold | Takeya MizugakiBantamweight | WSubmission, R3 2:11Arm Triangle From Bottom Guard | 32 of 54 | 3 of 15 | 7:35 | 0 | 12:11 | Rounds |
| Wed, Jul 16, 2014UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs Miller | Hugo VianaBantamweight | WKO/TKO, R3 3:50Punches to Head From Mount | 62 of 98 | 4 of 4 | 8:34 | 0 | 13:50 | Rounds |
| Sat, Feb 22, 2014UFC 170: Rousey vs McMann | Cody GibsonBantamweight | WUnanimous decision, R3 5:00Chris Lee 28 - 29. Mark Smith 28 - 29. Glenn Trowbridge 28 - 29. | 46 of 89 | 3 of 5 | 7:54 | 0 | 15:00 | Rounds |
UFC bouts only, counted from the fight rows; the promotion’s listed pro record above covers every promotion and is a different denominator. Volume is per minute of cage time and accuracy per attempt; how he finishes is counted in his wins, the one place a fight is the unit. Significant strikes only. Control time the source did not record is absent, never 0:00.