Aljamain Sterling has reignited his pursuit of a second UFC title after building momentum in the featherweight division. The former bantamweight champion, now 36, has been determined to carve out a new legacy since moving up in weight following his loss to Sean O’Malley.
His latest win over Youssef Zalal at UFC Vegas 116 has strengthened his case, putting him back in the mix among top contenders. With consecutive victories under his belt, Sterling is now openly targeting a championship opportunity against Alexander Volkanovski.
Competition intensifies with Movsar Evloev in the mix
The title picture, however, is far from straightforward. Movsar Evloev remains a major obstacle in Sterling’s path. The undefeated contender extended his perfect UFC record with a notable win over Lerone Murphy, strengthening his claim as the division’s next challenger.
Evloev also holds a previous victory over Aljamain Sterling, a factor that has fueled debate over who deserves the next shot. Despite this, Sterling is making his own case by pushing for a high-profile matchup, framing a potential fight against Volkanovski as a clash worthy of headline billing.
Aljamain Sterling outlines why he’s a different threat
While Alexander Volkanovski has already proven his credentials against elite grapplers—most notably in his closely contested bout with Makhachev—Sterling believes his own approach presents a unique challenge.
“When he fought Islam, Islam had his back,” Sterling said during a backstage interview with UFC News. “And you saw when I had Youssef’s back. When I fought Movsar, I had his back but he did something really smart — he held my hands and didn’t give me the opportunity to open up and strike.
“I think that’s the difference. Volkanovski, when he got his back taken by Islam in that first fight, he was the one doing damage from having his back taken.
“That’s the difference between a guy like that and a guy like me,” he continued. “It’s just a different skill set.
“I’m not disrespecting Islam. I just bring a different problem, a different set of skills.”
A compelling stylistic matchup looms
Alexander Volkanovski’s ability to handle high-level wrestling has been widely praised, especially following his razor-close encounter with Makhachev. However, Aljamain Sterling is confident that his grappling dynamics could test the champion in unfamiliar ways.
As the featherweight division continues to take shape, Sterling’s resurgence and bold claims have added intrigue to the title race, setting up a potential stylistic showdown that could redefine the hierarchy at 145 pounds.