“MMA is not one of those up and down basketball seasons where you have a ton of games and you can still make the playoffs. It doesn't work like that in MMA. You get a couple losses, you get washed up, you get the door slammed behind you and they bring in the next person behind you who is here to take your place.”

American professional mixed martial artist

Aljamain Sterling is an American professional mixed martial artist. He has competed in the UFC and, as of April 28, 2026, fights in the featherweight division. He is a former UFC bantamweight champion and a former Cage Fury Fighting Bantamweight Champion. Sterling is best known for becoming the first UFC champion to win a title by disqualification. His career has also included time in Cage Fury Fighting Championship before his rise in the UFC, and he is ranked #4 in the Meta UFC featherweight rankings as of April 28, 2026.