Aljamain Sterling: Can the human backpack smother Zalal?

Imagine a 145-pound backpack, equipped with titanium arms and an iron will, that refuses to let go even if you ask nicely. That’s Aljamain Sterling: a slow-acting poison that seeps into your vertebrae, a master of the "sticky clinch" capable of turning an octagon into a suffocating wrestling room. Hated by KO purists, adored by grappling tacticians, he’s the fighter nobody wants to face, but everyone ends up respecting—usually after spending 15 minutes staring at the UFC logo on the canvas.

🥊 Quick Stats

Name: Aljamain Sterling
Record: 25-5-0
Claim to Fame: The first champion in UFC history to win his belt via disqualification (and then defend it three times just to shut the haters up).

The High-Five Block

The "Funk Master's" last 5 results:

• ✅ Calvin Kattar - Decision (Unanimous) - Round 3 (April 2024)
• ❌ Sean O'Malley - TKO (Punches) - Round 2 (August 2023)
• ✅ Henry Cejudo - Decision (Split) - Round 5 (May 2023)
• ✅ T.J. Dillashaw - TKO (Punches) - Round 2 (Oct. 2022)
• ✅ Petr Yan - Decision (Split) - Round 5 (April 2022)

The Origin Story

Sterling wasn't born with boxing gloves, but with a wrestling singlet. A pure product of the State University of New York (SUNY) at Cortland, he forged his "Funk" style there: an unconventional wrestling approach, full of improbable contortions and scrambles where he always ends up on your hips. That’s where he learned that raw strength is worthless without persistence. In the UFC, he translated this mat science into a terrifying discipline: back control. When Aljo grabs you, it’s no longer a fight; it’s a 25-minute administrative procedure where he stamps your defeat round after round.

The King of the "Backpack" and the Knee of Discord

Sterling’s rise in the UFC reads like a B-movie script that ends up a masterpiece. Long underrated, he climbed the Bantamweight ranks with surgical submissions (ask Cory Sandhagen, folded in 88 seconds). But it was his win against Petr Yan that broke the internet: an illegal knee from the Russian, Sterling on the canvas, and a belt changing hands in total chaos. Labeled a "Hollywood actor" by half the MMA world, he responded the best way possible: by beating Yan fair and square in the rematch, then cleaning out the division against legends like Dillashaw and Cejudo. Sterling isn't here to put on a show with backflips; he’s here to win. Period.

Useless Knowledge

• The Blood Pact: He categorically refuses to fight Merab Dvalishvili, his training partner and best friend. In the UFC, that’s unheard of for two world-class contenders.
• The "Funk Master": His nickname comes from his "funk" wrestling style, a technical term for the ability to escape precarious positions through unorthodox movements.
• Record Collector: He holds the record for the most consecutive wins in the Bantamweight division (9) and the most title defenses (3).

The MMX Take

Facing Youssef Zalal, "The Moroccan Devil," Sterling has a lot on the line. It’s his second fight at Featherweight (145 lbs), a division where the monsters are bigger and hit harder. Zalal is a fluid, long-limbed striker with a reach that could cause problems. But here’s the killer stat: Aljamain Sterling attempts an average of 20 takedowns per 5-round fight. He isn't looking for precision (25% success rate), he’s looking for volume. He will harass Zalal until he breaks physically or mentally.

For your MMX picks, the safe bet is Sterling by decision. Zalal is too technical to get submitted easily, but Sterling is too experienced to get outclassed on the feet. He’s going to grind, pin Zalal against the cage, and turn this Main Event into a long, clinical grappling session. It’s not pretty for the highlight reels, but it’s gold for your points in The League.

Will Sterling manage to lock down the fiery Zalal to earn one last run at the title? Come make your picks and challenge your buddies on MMX.

📋 On the same card: Check out all the profiles for UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs. Zalal