Aljamain Sterling Bio
Aljamain Antoine Sterling, born on July 31, 1989, is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former UFC Bantamweight Champion. Sterling holds the distinction of being the first UFC champion to win a title by disqualification. Before reaching the UFC, he competed for Cage Fury Fighting Championships, where he is a former Cage Fury Fighting Bantamweight Champion. Known inside the cage as “The Funk Master,” Sterling is widely respected for his unorthodox wrestling style and submission grappling skills.
Sterling trains out of the Serra-Longo Fight Team under longtime head coach Ray Longo and former UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra. He holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu earned under Serra and has built a reputation as one of the most technical grapplers in the sport. As of April 2026, he is ranked among the top five fighters in the UFC featherweight division.
Early Life and Background
Aljamain Antoine Sterling was born on July 31, 1989, in Uniondale, New York, to Jamaican parents Cleveland and Sophia Sterling. He grew up alongside seven full siblings and at least twelve half-siblings in a busy, close-knit household. The neighborhood around Uniondale exposed him to the realities of gang life, and several of his brothers became involved in that world. Determined to choose a different path, Sterling turned to athletics as a way to stay grounded and focused on his future.
He began wrestling at Uniondale High School in 2004, using the sport as a constructive outlet during his teenage years. Sterling quickly developed a passion for the discipline, embracing the hard work and structure that came with year-round training. His unusual movement and constant pressure on the mat earned him the lifelong nickname “The Funk Master,” a moniker that later followed him into the professional ranks of mixed martial arts.
Path to MMA
After high school, Sterling enrolled at Morrisville State College to continue his wrestling career. Unable to keep up with the academic requirements to reach NCAA Division I, he eventually transferred to SUNY Cortland. There, he became a two-time NCAA Division III All-American, compiling a strong college wrestling record of 87 wins against 27 losses. He graduated from Cortland with a bachelor’s degree in physical education.
During his time at Cortland, Sterling met future UFC great Jon Jones and joined the wrestling team that Jones was part of. Jones invited Sterling to try mixed martial arts at The BombSquad gym in Ithaca, New York. Sterling fell in love with the sport, and after a few early professional fights, he left The BombSquad to train at the Serra-Longo Fight Team on Long Island, where he has developed his game ever since.
Aljamain Sterling Career
Early Career (2010–2013)
Aljamain Antoine Sterling began his amateur career in 2009 and compiled a 6-1 record, capturing the Raging Wolf amateur Bantamweight Championship and the Extreme FC amateur Featherweight Championship. He turned professional in 2010 and won his first two bouts before earning a shot at the Ring of Combat Bantamweight Championship, which he captured by split decision over Claudio Ledesma. That title win caught the attention of larger promotions and led him to sign with Cage Fury Fighting Championships.
At Cage Fury, Sterling debuted with a last-second TKO victory over Evan Chmieleski in a featherweight bout. He then defeated Sean Santella by unanimous decision to win the vacant CFFC Bantamweight Championship. Sterling defended that title three times, finishing every defense by rear-naked choke, which ultimately earned him a contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
UFC Breakthrough (2014–2019)
Sterling made his UFC debut in March 2014 at UFC 170 against Cody Gibson, winning a unanimous decision. He added a third-round TKO win over Hugo Viana in July 2014 and a submission victory over Takeya Mizugaki in 2015. A setback came in May 2016 when he dropped a split decision to Bryan Caraway, and another followed in January 2017 against Raphael Assunção. Sterling rebounded with decision wins over Augusto Mendes and former champion Renan Barão before suffering a first-round knockout loss to Marlon Moraes in December 2017.
The 2018 and 2019 seasons marked Sterling’s rise up the bantamweight ladder. He posted consecutive decision wins over Brett Johns, Jimmie Rivera, and Pedro Munhoz, showcasing a relentless pace and improving striking. By 2019, Sterling had established himself as one of the most dangerous grapplers in the division, setting the stage for his first title opportunity.
UFC Bantamweight Championship Era (2020–2023)
On June 6, 2020, Sterling submitted Cory Sandhagen in the first round at UFC 250, a win confirmed by UFC president Dana White as a bantamweight title eliminator. The performance earned him his first Performance of the Night bonus. He was then booked to face Petr Yan for the vacant UFC Bantamweight Championship at UFC 259 on March 6, 2021. In a historic moment, Sterling won the bout by disqualification in the fourth round after an intentional illegal knee from Yan, becoming the first fighter in UFC history to win a championship by disqualification.
Sterling defended the bantamweight title three times. He outpointed Yan in a closely contested rematch at UFC 273 in April 2022, with eleven of eighteen media outlets scoring the bout in his favor. At UFC 280 in October 2022, he stopped T.J. Dillashaw in the second round after a shoulder injury ended the challenger’s night. His final title defense came at UFC 288 in May 2023, when he edged Henry Cejudo by split decision, with twenty-one of twenty-three media outlets scoring the fight for Sterling. Sterling’s reign ended at UFC 292 in August 2023, when he was stopped by Sean O’Malley in the second round and lost the bantamweight crown.
Featherweight Era (2024–Present)
Following his first loss of the bantamweight title reign, Sterling moved up to the UFC Featherweight Division. He made his featherweight return at UFC 300 on April 13, 2024, defeating Calvin Kattar by unanimous decision. Sterling later admitted that a loss to Kattar might have pushed him toward retirement, making the win a defining moment in his second UFC chapter. A scheduled bout with Movsar Evloev at UFC 307 fell through due to a sparring injury, and the rescheduled fight at UFC 310 ended in a unanimous decision loss for Sterling in December 2024.
Sterling returned to the win column in 2025 with a unanimous decision over Brian Ortega at UFC Fight Night 257 on August 23, 2025, a bout contested at a 153-pound catchweight. He continued his momentum on April 25, 2026, with a unanimous decision win over Youssef Zalal at UFC Fight Night 274. As of April 28, 2026, Sterling sits at number four in the official UFC featherweight rankings.
Style and Strengths
Aljamain Antoine Sterling is widely recognized for his unorthodox, high-pressure grappling style, which has earned him the “Funk Master” nickname. He blends relentless wrestling, slick submissions, and increasingly sharp striking to break down opponents over long fights. His partnership with longtime head coach Ray Longo and jiu-jitsu mentor Matt Serra has shaped a well-rounded game that thrives against top-tier competition.
Notable Events and Milestones
Becoming the first UFC champion to win a title by disqualification at UFC 259 stands as Sterling’s most historic achievement. He has also earned a Performance of the Night bonus, defended a UFC championship three times, and made a successful transition to the featherweight division later in his career. His three-round beatdown of former champion T.J. Dillashaw at UFC 280 is widely regarded as one of the most clinical title-fight performances of his generation.
Aljamain Sterling Career Wins
Across his professional career, Aljamain Antoine Sterling has compiled a record built on decisions, submissions, and high-level performances in multiple organizations. He has captured titles in Ring of Combat, Cage Fury Fighting Championships, and the UFC, while competing against a long list of ranked contenders.
UFC Highlights
In the UFC alone, Sterling has recorded notable wins over top names including Cody Gibson, Hugo Viana, Takeya Mizugaki, Johnny Eduardo, Augusto Mendes, Renan Barão, Brett Johns, Cody Stamann, Jimmie Rivera, Pedro Munhoz, Cory Sandhagen, Petr Yan, T.J. Dillashaw, Henry Cejudo, Calvin Kattar, Brian Ortega, and Youssef Zalal. His win over Yan at UFC 259 remains the most significant, making him the first UFC champion ever crowned by disqualification.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the UFC, Sterling won the Ring of Combat Bantamweight Championship and the Cage Fury Fighting Championships Bantamweight Title, defending the latter three times by rear-naked choke. He has also found success in submission grappling, defeating Damien Nitkin, Mike Grundy, Chase Hooper, and Jay Jay Wilson in various grappling promotions.
Aljamain Sterling Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Aljamain Antoine Sterling was raised in Uniondale, New York, by his Jamaican parents, Cleveland and Sophia Sterling. He grew up in a large blended family with seven full siblings and at least twelve half-siblings. Several of his brothers became involved with local gangs, and Sterling has often credited wrestling with giving him a healthier path during his teenage years.
Personal Life
Sterling currently resides in Massapequa, New York, where he trains out of the Serra-Longo Fight Team. He earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from SUNY Cortland and continues to balance his fighting career with content creation through his popular YouTube channel, FunkMasterMMA.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a steady rebound for Aljamain Antoine Sterling in the UFC featherweight division. After the late 2024 loss to Movsar Evloev, he reshaped his camp and entered the year determined to climb back into the title conversation. His August 2025 unanimous decision win over Brian Ortega was a strong statement, proving that he remained a serious threat at 145 pounds.
Working again with head coach Ray Longo and the Serra-Longo team, Sterling leaned on his signature grappling and improved cardio to control Ortega over three rounds. The victory moved him back into the upper tier of the featherweight rankings and set up another important bout in early 2026.
Looking ahead, Sterling’s blend of experience, grappling pedigree, and durable championship mindset positions him as a constant threat in the featherweight title picture. With his ranking inside the top five, another shot at UFC gold remains a realistic target for the coming seasons.
