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Aljamain Sterling turns down fight offer outside featherweight top ten

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 21, 2026, 12:01 PM

Last updated Aug 21, 2026

Aljamain Sterling turns down fight offer outside featherweight top ten

Summary

Aljamain Sterling has not returned to the octagon since his victory over Youssef Zalal in April. Recently, he declined a fight offer against an opponent not ranked in the featherweight top ten, expressing disappointment at being excluded from the upcoming UFC 333 card. Sterling, currently ranked fourth in the division, mentioned the importance of choosing fights that align with his legacy rather than financial gain. He stated this is the first fight he has ever declined in his UFC career and hopes to find better opportunities soon.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•Sterling hasn't fought since defeating Youssef Zalal in April 2026.
•He turned down a fight against a non-top ten competitor.
•Currently ranked fourth in the featherweight division.
•Expressed frustration at missing UFC 333, headlined by Volkanovski.
•Hopes for better fight opportunities soon to maintain his legacy.

Latest Updates

12:01 PMYahoo Sports — Aljamain Sterling left on sideline after turning down opponent outside the top ten

What they're saying

"
Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling hasn’t fought since he knocked back younger up-and-comer Youssef Zalal in the main event of a UFC Apex card back in April. But it may be a while yet before “Funkmaster” returns, because he just turned down a fight offer against someone who isn’t even in the featherweight top […]
— Yahoo Sports

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