Aljamain Sterling: Funk Master — Fighter Profile, Career & Legacy
- Dana Black
- May 9
- 10 min read
Introduction
Aljamain "Funk Master" Sterling is a former UFC Bantamweight Champion (March 2021 to August 2023), three-time UFC Bantamweight Championship defender, and current top-five-ranked UFC Featherweight contender. The Uniondale, New York native of Jamaican descent — two-time NCAA Division III All-American wrestler at SUNY Morrisville and Cortland — is the first UFC champion in promotion history to win a title via disqualification (UFC 259 March 2021 vs Petr Yan, illegal knee R4). He defended the UFC Bantamweight Championship three times (Yan rematch, TJ Dillashaw, Henry Cejudo) before losing it to Sean O'Malley at UFC 292. He has subsequently moved up to UFC featherweight, where he is publicly campaigning for a UFC Featherweight Championship title shot after his April 2026 main-event unanimous-decision win over Youssef Zalal.
Contents
Quick Stats
Nickname: Funk Master
Age: 36 (born July 31, 1989)
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
Reach: 71" (180 cm)
Weight Class: Bantamweight (135 lb), Featherweight (145 lb)
Stance: Switch
Team: Serra-Longo Fight Team (Long Island, NY)
Pro MMA Record: 26 wins, 5 losses (last fight UFC Fight Night Las Vegas April 2026 - won UD over Youssef Zalal)
Background
Born July 31, 1989 in Uniondale, Long Island, New York. Sterling grew up in Uniondale to Jamaican parents Cleveland and Sophia Sterling — in a household with seven full siblings and at least 12 half-siblings (at one point 14 children were living in the same home, sometimes with four or five sharing a bedroom). He attended SUNY Morrisville and SUNY Cortland, where he became a two-time NCAA Division III All-American wrestler.
He turned professional in MMA in 2011 at age 22 and competed in regional Northeast MMA circuits before signing with Cage Fury Fighting Championships (CFFC). He won the Cage Fury Fighting Bantamweight Championship before signing with the UFC in February 2014. He trains at Serra-Longo Fight Team in Long Island, New York under Ray Longo and Matt Serra alongside fellow UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili and former UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman. He resides in New York and is a vocal advocate for racial justice causes.
Fighting Style
Wrestling-driven elite-level grappling combined with championship-pace high-output striking. Sterling's pattern is textbook Serra-Longo Fight Team — two-time NCAA Division III All-American wrestling foundation combined with championship-level Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt grappling and the highest-output striking pace of the modern UFC bantamweight era. The June 2020 UFC 250 R1 RNC submission of Cory Sandhagen, the October 2022 UFC 280 R2 TKO of TJ Dillashaw, and the April 2024 UFC 300 unanimous-decision win over Calvin Kattar (his featherweight debut) are the canonical examples of his championship-level finishing arsenal.
His weakness — exposed at UFC 292 against Sean O'Malley in August 2023 — is championship-level striking durability against elite-level UFC Bantamweight Championship-tier knockout artists. The R2 KO loss to O'Malley at 0:51 of round two ended his UFC Bantamweight Championship reign and was widely cited as one of the most-replayed UFC bantamweight title-changing finishes of 2023. Within his championship-era prime years from January 2014 to August 2023, however, his arsenal was the technical floor of UFC bantamweight competition — three UFC Bantamweight Championship defenses, the foundational moment of the Serra-Longo Fight Team's mid-2020s UFC bantamweight championship era.
Career Highlights
2011 — Pro MMA debut. Won by R1 RNC submission.
Pre-UFC — Won Cage Fury Fighting Bantamweight Championship.
February 22, 2014 — UFC debut at UFC 170. Won by R1 RNC submission.
December 9, 2017 — UFC Fight Night 123 vs Marlon Moraes. Lost by R1 KO.
June 6, 2020 — UFC 250 vs Cory Sandhagen. Won by R1 RNC submission at 1:28.
March 6, 2021 — UFC 259 vs Petr Yan. Won UFC Bantamweight Championship by DQ at 4:29 R4 (illegal knee) — first UFC champion to win a title by disqualification.
April 9, 2022 — UFC 273 vs Petr Yan 2. Title defense by split decision.
October 22, 2022 — UFC 280 vs TJ Dillashaw. Title defense by R2 TKO at 3:44.
May 6, 2023 — UFC 288 vs Henry Cejudo. Title defense by split decision.
August 19, 2023 — UFC 292 vs Sean O'Malley. Lost UFC Bantamweight Championship by R2 KO at 0:51.
April 13, 2024 — UFC 300 vs Calvin Kattar. Won by unanimous decision; UFC featherweight debut.
December 7, 2024 — UFC 310 vs Movsar Evloev. Lost by unanimous decision.
August 23, 2025 — UFC Fight Night Shanghai vs Brian Ortega. Won by unanimous decision.
April 25, 2026 — UFC Fight Night Las Vegas vs Youssef Zalal. Won by unanimous decision (49-45 x3) in main event.
Currently campaigning for UFC Featherweight Championship title shot vs Alexander Volkanovski.
Notable Fights & Rivalries
vs Petr Yan (UFC 259 2021, UFC 273 2022)
Sterling's career-defining rivalry. The first meeting at UFC 259 on March 6, 2021 ended with Sterling winning the UFC Bantamweight Championship by disqualification at 4:29 of round four — Yan landed an illegal knee on a downed Sterling, and the fight was waved off. Sterling became the first UFC champion in promotion history to win a title via disqualification — a result that drew significant controversy and prompted a rematch fight clause. The rematch at UFC 273 on April 9, 2022 ended with Sterling's split-decision title defense win — confirming his championship-level competitive equality with Yan and silencing the critics who questioned the original DQ result. Yan went on to reclaim the UFC Bantamweight Championship at UFC 323 in December 2025 over Merab Dvalishvili.
vs TJ Dillashaw (UFC 280, 2022)
Sterling's most-replayed UFC Bantamweight Championship title defense. He stopped TJ Dillashaw — former two-time UFC Bantamweight Champion and 2018 PFP-ranked top-five fighter — by R2 TKO at 3:44 of round two at UFC 280 in October 2022 in Abu Dhabi. The result was Sterling's second UFC Bantamweight Championship defense and one of the most decisive title-defending TKO finishes of 2022. Dillashaw retired from MMA after the bout due to a chronic shoulder injury that had been dislocating throughout the fight.
vs Henry Cejudo (UFC 288, 2023)
Sterling's third UFC Bantamweight Championship title defense. He defeated Henry Cejudo — former UFC Flyweight Champion and former UFC Bantamweight Champion (the only fighter to hold both titles simultaneously) — by split decision at UFC 288 on May 6, 2023 in Newark. The result was Sterling's third successful UFC Bantamweight Championship defense and confirmed him as one of only a handful of UFC Bantamweight Champions in promotion history with three or more title defenses. Cejudo has subsequently fought once more (a 2024 loss to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 298) and remains in retirement consideration.
vs Sean O'Malley (UFC 292, 2023)
The fight that ended Sterling's UFC Bantamweight Championship reign. O'Malley stopped Sterling by R2 KO at 0:51 of round two at UFC 292 on August 19, 2023 in Boston. The result was widely cited as one of the most-replayed UFC bantamweight title-changing finishes of 2023 and prompted Sterling's subsequent move up to featherweight. O'Malley has since lost the title to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306 in September 2024 and lost the rematch at UFC 316 in June 2025 by submission.
vs Movsar Evloev (UFC 310, 2024)
Sterling's only career UFC featherweight loss to date. Evloev — undefeated Russian-Ingushetian featherweight prospect — defeated Sterling by unanimous decision at UFC 310 in December 2024. The result extended Evloev's record to 18-0 (subsequently extended to 20-0 as of 2026) and is the primary reason Evloev is widely considered the #1-ranked UFC Featherweight Championship contender. Sterling has publicly stated he wants to face Volkanovski before Evloev gets the next title shot — citing his championship-era prior reign and bigger fan-engagement narrative.
Championships & Accolades
Former UFC Bantamweight Champion (March 2021 to August 2023).
First UFC champion in promotion history to win a title by disqualification (UFC 259 vs Petr Yan, March 2021).
Three successful UFC Bantamweight Championship defenses (Petr Yan rematch, TJ Dillashaw, Henry Cejudo).
Cage Fury Fighting Bantamweight Champion (pre-UFC career).
Two-time NCAA Division III All-American wrestler (SUNY Morrisville, SUNY Cortland).
Career UFC record: 18-5 across his 12-year UFC tenure.
Career UFC wins over former UFC Bantamweight Champions Petr Yan, TJ Dillashaw, Henry Cejudo, plus former UFC Featherweight Title Challengers Calvin Kattar and Brian Ortega.
Multiple UFC Performance of the Night and Submission of the Year bonus winner.
2018 Submission of the Year ranked #3 (tied with Zabit Magomedsharipov).
BJJ Black Belt under Serra-Longo Fight Team coaching.
Most globally-recognized Jamaican-American UFC Bantamweight Champion in promotion history.
Current Status
Active in the UFC Featherweight division. Sterling's most recent fight was the April 25, 2026 main-event unanimous-decision win over Youssef Zalal at UFC Fight Night Las Vegas at the Meta APEX (49-45 x3) — extending his featherweight winning streak to two consecutive wins after his August 2025 UD win over Brian Ortega in Shanghai. He is currently ranked top-five in the UFC Featherweight division and has publicly called for a UFC Featherweight Championship title shot against current champion Alexander Volkanovski.
He continues to train at Serra-Longo Fight Team in Long Island, New York under Ray Longo and Matt Serra alongside fellow UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili (former champion) and former UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman. He resides in New York and recently signed a new contract with the UFC. He holds 1.36 million Instagram followers and remains the most globally-recognized Jamaican-American UFC Bantamweight Champion in promotion history. The featherweight title shot conversation continues — undefeated 20-0 contender Movsar Evloev (who handed Sterling his only career featherweight loss in December 2024) is widely considered the #1 contender, but Sterling is the more-marketable matchup for Volkanovski's next title defense.
Fun Facts
Was the first UFC champion in promotion history to ever win a title via disqualification — the UFC 259 R4 illegal-knee result vs Petr Yan on March 6, 2021 made him a one-of-a-kind footnote in UFC championship history.
Grew up in a household with seven full siblings and at least 12 half-siblings — at one point 14 children were living in the same home, sometimes with four or five sharing a bedroom. He frequently cites this upbringing as the foundation of his championship-pace work ethic.
Was a two-time NCAA Division III All-American wrestler at SUNY Morrisville and SUNY Cortland — making him one of the most credentialed collegiate wrestlers in the modern UFC bantamweight division.
Is the first UFC Bantamweight Champion in promotion history to defend the title three times since Dominick Cruz's first reign (2010-2014).
Trains at Serra-Longo Fight Team alongside former UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili and former UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman — making him part of one of the most-decorated UFC Champion training partner trios in promotion history.
Earned the 2018 Submission of the Year #3 ranking — tied with Zabit Magomedsharipov for the same year's bonus tier.
Holds 1.36 million Instagram followers and remains the most globally-recognized Jamaican-American UFC Bantamweight Champion in promotion history.
Made his UFC featherweight debut at UFC 300 in April 2024 — joining the historic event card by defeating Calvin Kattar by unanimous decision.
Legacy / Verdict
Aljamain "Funk Master" Sterling is one of the most accomplished UFC Bantamweight Champions of the early 2020s and the most globally-recognized Jamaican-American UFC champion in promotion history. The March 2021 to August 2023 UFC Bantamweight Championship reign, the three successful title defenses (Yan rematch, Dillashaw, Cejudo), the unique distinction of being the first UFC champion to win a title via disqualification, the foundational Serra-Longo Fight Team training base alongside Merab Dvalishvili and Chris Weidman, the 18-5 UFC career record across 12 years, and the championship-pace high-output wrestling-and-grappling pattern together place him in the top ten UFC bantamweight champions of all time. The Cage Fury Fighting Bantamweight Championship pre-UFC, the two-time NCAA Division III All-American wrestling foundation, and the multiple UFC Performance of the Night and Submission of the Year bonuses are foundational competitive credentials.
What complicates the legacy is the still-developing post-bantamweight-title era — the August 2023 UFC 292 R2 KO loss to Sean O'Malley (the title-changing finish), the December 2024 UFC 310 unanimous-decision loss to Movsar Evloev (currently widely considered the #1-ranked UFC Featherweight Championship contender), and the still-pending UFC Featherweight Championship title shot against Alexander Volkanovski. The April 2026 main-event unanimous-decision win over Youssef Zalal in Las Vegas has positioned him for the title shot conversation — a UFC Featherweight Championship title win would establish him as the third two-division UFC champion of the mid-2020s and one of the most-decorated UFC Bantamweight Champions of all time. The legacy continues to develop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Aljamain Sterling the UFC Bantamweight Champion?
No — not as of 2026. He is a former UFC Bantamweight Champion (March 2021 to August 2023) who has moved up to featherweight and currently fights in the UFC Featherweight division. He won the UFC Bantamweight Championship at UFC 259 on March 6, 2021 (notably becoming the first UFC champion to ever win a title via disqualification, after Petr Yan landed an illegal knee at 4:29 R4) and defended the title three times before losing it to Sean O'Malley at UFC 292 on August 19, 2023 by R2 KO.
What is Aljamain Sterling's professional MMA record?
Twenty-six wins and five losses across his career (18-5 in the UFC). His most recent fight was the April 25, 2026 main-event unanimous-decision win over Youssef Zalal at UFC Fight Night Las Vegas at the Meta APEX — extending his featherweight winning streak after his August 2025 UD win over Brian Ortega in Shanghai.
How many times did Aljamain Sterling defend the UFC Bantamweight Championship?
Three times. He defended the UFC Bantamweight Championship via split decision over Petr Yan rematch at UFC 273 (April 9, 2022), R2 TKO over TJ Dillashaw at UFC 280 (October 22, 2022) at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, and split decision over Henry Cejudo at UFC 288 (May 6, 2023) in Newark — making him one of only a handful of UFC Bantamweight Champions in promotion history with three or more title defenses. He lost the title at UFC 292 to Sean O'Malley by R2 KO at 0:51 of round two on August 19, 2023.
What style does Aljamain Sterling fight?
Wrestling-driven elite-level grappling combined with championship-pace high-output striking. Sterling's pattern is textbook Serra-Longo Fight Team — two-time NCAA Division III All-American wrestling foundation combined with championship-level Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt grappling and the highest-output striking pace of the modern UFC bantamweight era. The June 2020 UFC 250 R1 RNC submission of Cory Sandhagen, the October 2022 UFC 280 R2 TKO of TJ Dillashaw, and the April 2024 UFC 300 unanimous-decision win over Calvin Kattar (his featherweight debut) are the canonical examples of his championship-level finishing arsenal.
Where is Aljamain Sterling from?
Born July 31, 1989 in Uniondale, New York. Sterling grew up in Uniondale to Jamaican parents Cleveland and Sophia Sterling — in a household with seven full siblings and at least 12 half-siblings (at one point 14 children were living in the same home, sometimes with four or five sharing a bedroom). He attended SUNY Morrisville and SUNY Cortland, where he became a two-time NCAA Division III All-American wrestler. He trains at Serra-Longo Fight Team under Ray Longo and Matt Serra alongside fellow UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili and former UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman.
Is Aljamain Sterling moving toward a UFC Featherweight Championship title shot?
He is publicly campaigning for one. After his April 25, 2026 main-event unanimous-decision win over Youssef Zalal at UFC Fight Night Las Vegas (his second consecutive featherweight win, following his August 2025 UD win over Brian Ortega in Shanghai), Sterling publicly called for a UFC Featherweight Championship title shot against current champion Alexander Volkanovski. The challenger order is debated — undefeated 20-0 contender Movsar Evloev (who handed Sterling his only career featherweight loss in December 2024) is widely considered the #1 contender — but Sterling argues his championship-level prior reign and bigger fan-engagement narrative warrants the next title shot.
References
Comments