Career Averages - Raphael Assunção
Career Averages - Aljamain Sterling
Raphael Assunção - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davey Grant | 0 | 42 of 58 | 72% | 67 of 85 | 5 of 12 | 41% | 0 | 0 | 4:17 |
| Raphael Assunção | 1 | 65 of 138 | 47% | 80 of 154 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:52 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Davey Grant | 0 | 13 of 19 | 68% | 23 of 31 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:46 |
| Raphael Assunção | 0 | 20 of 39 | 51% | 20 of 39 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Davey Grant | 0 | 16 of 20 | 80% | 27 of 31 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:38 |
| Raphael Assunção | 0 | 20 of 44 | 45% | 22 of 46 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Davey Grant | 0 | 13 of 19 | 68% | 17 of 23 | 2 of 7 | 28% | 0 | 0 | 0:53 |
| Raphael Assunção | 1 | 25 of 55 | 45% | 38 of 69 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:52 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davey Grant | 42 of 58 | 72% | 16 of 29 | 8 of 8 | 18 of 21 | 38 of 53 | 3 of 4 | 1 of 1 |
| Raphael Assunção | 65 of 138 | 47% | 28 of 91 | 18 of 28 | 19 of 19 | 59 of 132 | 4 of 4 | 2 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Davey Grant | 13 of 19 | 68% | 4 of 8 | 2 of 2 | 7 of 9 | 12 of 18 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
| Raphael Assunção | 20 of 39 | 51% | 5 of 21 | 7 of 10 | 8 of 8 | 20 of 39 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Davey Grant | 16 of 20 | 80% | 4 of 8 | 4 of 4 | 8 of 8 | 14 of 17 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Raphael Assunção | 20 of 44 | 45% | 6 of 25 | 4 of 9 | 10 of 10 | 18 of 42 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Davey Grant | 13 of 19 | 68% | 8 of 13 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 4 | 12 of 18 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Raphael Assunção | 25 of 55 | 45% | 17 of 45 | 7 of 9 | 1 of 1 | 21 of 51 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 2 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Grant (-140), Assuncao (+120)
Round 1
One of the more underrated bantamweight greats might be entering the final fight of his storied career, as longtime Brazilian contender Assuncao (28-9, 12-6 UFC) is a few months away from his 41st birthday. He battles .500 UFC fighter Grant (14-6, 5-5 UFC), who posts an 86% finish rate and generally lives up to his “Dangerous” nickname. The match will be officiated by nonsense-allergic referee Keith Peterson, and the two fighters opt to clap hands. Assuncao moves to the center of the cage briefly, and they clash legs early. As Assuncao pushes back, Grant does the same, and fingers rake eyes. Grant offers an apology, and they resume nailing one another on the legs. Assuncao sits down on a booming right hand, wrapping his arm just around the head and not connecting with it. Grant boots his foe in the body, and Assuncao catches it and scores a right hand to put Grant on his back. Assuncao whips an elbow down, and Grant threatens with a triangle choke that the Brazilian sees coming from a mile away. Grant scoots to the wall on his backside, and Assuncao follows him from behind and slides his left arm around the chest in hopes of setting up a rear-naked choke. Assuncao releases the arm so that he can punch Grant in the side of the head repeatedly, all while Grant tries and fails to scramble away. Grant stands back up despite Assuncao’s arm around his neck, and he spins around and shoves his man back to get space. Grant, with distance to strike, does just that with a front kick. Grant goes to the body and tries to swing a left hand over the top, but Assuncao intercepts him with a push kick. Grant scores a right hand after regaining his balance, and he switches stances right into a right hook in response. Assuncao lets go with a few punches on the inside, and he ducks back and blocks a head kick. Grant darts forward with a few punches, sneaking them in and evading the counters. Assuncao measures a right hand, and he signals to Peterson that the two clashed heads. Grant spins with a wheel kick that just misses, and Assuncao ducks a few leaping punches to clinch up and push Grant to the wire. The Brazilian lands a few knees to the thigh before breaking off with a right hand. Grant winds up with a right hook, landing it a second before the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Assuncao
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Assuncao
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Assuncao
Round 2
The respect is high to start off the second round, as the two gladly high-five to get going again. They trade body kicks, and Assuncao leans back to dodge a spinning wheel kick. Assuncao checks a low kick, and he tries to engage but gets popped with an overhand right. Assuncao chips at the calf of his opponent, while checking those that come back to his lead wheel. Assuncao grabs hold of a single, ducking a punch from his opponent, and he is stood up before securing it. Assuncao does land a right hand on the break, and they reset. The two land lefts at the same time, and Grant goes high with a kick that whizzes past his foe’s face. Grant throws a naked leg kick, and Assuncao counters with an emphatic right hand that makes Grant turn about. Grant steps in to release a spinning back elbow, and Assuncao blocks the worst of it and fires off a low kick. Grant kicks high and low, and the Brazilian swats them away without much concern. Assuncao looses a head kick, and he backs off as Grant walks him down and wings right hooks. Grant lunges forward, and his only strike that lands is a low kick. Grant gets a little too reckless, getting countered on the way in, and he finds himself getting grabbed by the veteran. Grant is warned for grabbing the fence to prevent the takedown, and Assuncao still drags him to his knees despite the foul. Grant fights his way back to his feet, but Assuncao has his arm around Grant’s waist with his legs intertwined for a trip. Grant looks to counter Assuncao with a trip, only to get thrown down once more. Assuncao gets a hook in as he takes the back, and Grant defends himself from anything else until the bell rings.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Assuncao
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Assuncao
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Assuncao
Round 3
The last round opens with a glove touch, and then the two throw hands. Both fighters connect with clean overhand rights, and they back off to measure one another. Assuncao beats the Brit to the punch with another right over the top, and Grant tries and fails to reach him back. As Grant advances, Assuncao kicks at his lead leg, which changes as Grant switches stances a few times. Assuncao hops away from a low kick, and he gets caught with a right hand coming in. Grant shucks him aside and strings a few punches together, ending it with a head kick that slides over the top. “Dangerous Davey” suddenly unleashes a torrent of punishment, blasting Assuncao with punches until he knocks Assuncao off-balance. Assuncao wobbles back to the fence, and he shoots for a desperation takedown to keep himself afloat. Grant defends the first try, but Assuncao redoubles his effort and pulls Grant’s ankle out to strip away his footing and put the Brit on his back. Assuncao holds on from an unorthodox half guard, but this posture allows Grant to explode back up. Grant fires off an uppercut that snaps Assuncao’s head back like a Pez dispenser, and he still has the Brazilian hurt. Grant tosses aside takedown entries from the veteran so that he can lay into him with punches, and he hurts Assuncao again in an exchange. Assuncao dives after a takedown, and Grant grabs the fence again to stop it. This time, Peterson has had enough of this nonsense, and he pauses the fight and deducts a point from Grant. Assuncao also loses his position from this, and Grant is thrilled so that he can tee off on the Brazilian some more. Assuncao struggles to stay on his feet from an onslaught of strikes, and Grant spins with a back fist that drills into the side of Assuncao’s head. Assuncao tries desperately to get the fight down, and he falls on top of Grant as the British fighter still tries to scramble.
“Dangerous Davey” wraps his legs around Assuncao’s neck to set up an inverted triangle choke, and the unexpected move is secured in a hurry. Assuncao is nonresponsive from on top after the choke gets tight, and he goes out without Peterson recognizing it immediately. Peterson reaches in to check on the Brazilian, who is completely unconscious, and he determines that Assuncao is out and stops the fight.
As soon as the fight is stopped, Assuncao’s coach, Eric Nicksick, is outraged from Peterson’s point deduction that also resulted in Assuncao losing his position, and it is explained that Grant had sat up and gained a superior position – and cannot be rewarded for gaining that position due to a foul. After Assuncao comes to, he removes his gloves and places them in the center of the cage to signal his retirement, while saying in his quick farewell interview that, “I think my time has come.”
The Official Result
Davey Grant def. Raphael Assuncao R3 4:43 via Technical Submission (Inverted Triangle Choke)
Angelo picks Davey Grant as the better striker with takedown defense that should hold up against the aging Assunção. He acknowledges Assunção's past success but believes Grant's power and composure will prevail. He notes the line at -160 is likely to move and considers it a safe pick.
Big Brady picks Davey Grant, noting Grant has never looked this good and is in his prime at 37. He expects Grant to march forward with wild looping shots and put Assunção away, as Assunção has been knocked out recently by Garbrandt and Simon. Brady predicts a second-round knockout, though he acknowledges Assunção could win via wrestling if Grant struggles on the mat.
Cody picks Grant, citing Grant's toughness and ability to push the pace. He notes Assunção's age and recent surgery, but acknowledges Assunção could win a close decision. He calls it a close fight.
Connor picks Assunção despite concerns about his age and recent performances. He believes Assunção's counter-striking, jab, and wrestling will be key against Grant's wild brawling style. He notes that Grant makes many mistakes and Assunção can take him down and control him, though there's always a risk of Grant landing a lucky shot.
I think Grant's power will be too much for Assunção, who has shown durability issues at 40. Assunção is the better technical striker, but Grant throws heavy shots and can end the fight at any moment. Assunção's recent losses have come by knockout, and Grant has the power to exploit that. I expect a knockout within the first 12 minutes.
Paul picks Grant but is not confident, noting Assunção's low volume and close fights. He thinks Grant's volume and takedown defense could be key, but calls it a dicey fight and says he won't bet it.
The MMA Guru picks Davey Grant, citing his toughness and finishing ability. He believes Grant can finish Assunção, while Assunção is unlikely to finish Grant. He notes Grant's win over Jonathan Martinez and his competitive fight with Adrian Yanez (which he thought Grant won). He predicts a KO in the second round.
Zane picks Assunção but is hesitant due to his age and recent decline. He notes that Assunção's counter-striking and wrestling should neutralize Grant's wild pressure, but Grant's power and unpredictability make it a risky pick. He mentions that Assunção has seen everything and should be able to handle Grant's style.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raphael Assunção | 0 | 60 of 91 | 65% | 78 of 110 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 0 | 0 | 4:29 |
| Victor Henry | 0 | 55 of 126 | 43% | 61 of 134 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raphael Assunção | 0 | 23 of 32 | 71% | 23 of 32 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:30 |
| Victor Henry | 0 | 22 of 48 | 45% | 25 of 52 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Raphael Assunção | 0 | 17 of 29 | 58% | 35 of 48 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:16 |
| Victor Henry | 0 | 15 of 27 | 55% | 17 of 30 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Raphael Assunção | 0 | 20 of 30 | 66% | 20 of 30 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:43 |
| Victor Henry | 0 | 18 of 51 | 35% | 19 of 52 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raphael Assunção | 60 of 91 | 65% | 40 of 65 | 8 of 12 | 12 of 14 | 42 of 70 | 15 of 16 | 3 of 5 |
| Victor Henry | 55 of 126 | 43% | 23 of 85 | 22 of 26 | 10 of 15 | 51 of 120 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raphael Assunção | 23 of 32 | 71% | 13 of 21 | 4 of 4 | 6 of 7 | 17 of 26 | 6 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Victor Henry | 22 of 48 | 45% | 10 of 32 | 11 of 14 | 1 of 2 | 20 of 46 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Raphael Assunção | 17 of 29 | 58% | 11 of 20 | 2 of 4 | 4 of 5 | 9 of 18 | 5 of 6 | 3 of 5 |
| Victor Henry | 15 of 27 | 55% | 4 of 13 | 5 of 5 | 6 of 9 | 14 of 26 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Raphael Assunção | 20 of 30 | 66% | 16 of 24 | 2 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 16 of 26 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Victor Henry | 18 of 51 | 35% | 9 of 40 | 6 of 7 | 3 of 4 | 17 of 48 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Henry (-345), Assuncao (+285)
Round 1
At the ripe age of 40, some believe the book on longtime bantamweight contender Assuncao (27-9, 11-6 UFC) is coming towards its conclusion soon. In hopes of snapping a career-long rough patch of four losses in a row, Assuncao will try to show there are still more pages to be written as he takes on the well-traveled Henry (22-5, 1-0 UFC). The 135ers clap hands ahead of their scheduled melee, and referee Kerry Hatley is prepped and ready for what is about to go down. Henry strikes first with a kick to the thigh, and Assuncao responds with the exact same strike. Henry stalks down the UFC vet and lines up a right hand, but he misses the mark. Assuncao is tentative and switching stances, with his own attack largely muted as he seems coiled to wait for a response. Henry rips the body with a kick, and Assuncao catches it, leading to them both trading punches while Henry’s right leg is in the air. Henry pulls his leg out and resets, and he advances while tossing out a front kick. Assuncao sits down on a heavy left hand that graces the chin, and Henry takes note and feints and fakes multiple times. Henry ducks this telegraphed punch and stings his man with a left, and his body kick lands again solidly. Assuncao pushes a front kick up the middle, and he swings a left hook when Henry bears down on him. Henry gets his leg grabbed again, and Assuncao once more cannot set him down, but Assuncao releases it and strings together a solid one-two. Henry blinks it out and continues his constant forward pressure, and they end up clinching him until he can shake off the grip. Assuncao throws with bad intentions, and “La Mangosta” dodges the worst of them and releases a right hand that pops Assuncao in the chops. The Brazilian evades the second such hook, and he snatches Henry and turns him to the wall. Henry shoves him away and gains some space, and he marches on while Assuncao backs himself to the cage on the other side. They trade heavy punches, and a body kick from Henry bounces off the cup. Assuncao shakes his cup and they do not pause, so Henry boots Assuncao upside the head. Assuncao shrugs it off so that he can throw heavy hands, and he fires off alternating punches while Henry is backed up on the fencing. Henry slides out of the way and pushes the action, mixing in body kicks, low kicks and punches. As Henry gets fancy with a crescent kick, Assuncao snipes him with a right hand. Henry wades forward to engage, but the bell sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Henry
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Henry
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Henry
Round 2
The bantamweights take the center of the cage and begin trading low kicks, and as if they both got the same memo, they switch to front kicks. Henry spins with a back kick, and Assuncao does the same, while neither lands flush. Henry pressures his man while spamming low kicks, softening the Brazilian up and dodging the right hook that wings by him. Assuncao connects with that heavy blow when he tries again, and Henry shakes his head and spins with a wheel kick. Assuncao capitalizes on this and jumps on top to take top position. Henry defends with an armbar setup off his back, but the veteran savvy of Assuncao pays off and allows him to move through it and keep striking. After a handful of powerful fists land on the dome, Henry explodes and gets back to his feet, only to be met with a head kick. Henry shrugs it off and gets out of the close range so he can initiate the offense. Henry swipes out with a left hand, and some swelling has developed on both cheeks of Assuncao. The bantamweights throw hammers at one another in close range, and Henry tries for a kick only for it to get caught. Henry tries to slug it out, but Assuncao lines up several clean right hands to knock Henry from one side of the cage to the other, all while hopping away. Assuncao uses this awkward situation to hit a takedown, and he finds himself in early submission danger. Assuncao punches his way out of it to open a cut on the left side of Henry’s face, but Henry doggedly pursues an armbar. The longtime contender fights off various submission setups including a shoulder lock and a toe hold, and Henry works his way to his feet right before the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Assuncao
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Assuncao
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Assuncao
Round 3
A touch of gloves commences the final frame, and Henry walks his opponent down and gets slugged in the face with a right hand. Henry tries to make him may, but he gets clubbed with a left hook. Assuncao is connecting with clean, heavy counters, and Henry is taking a beating but still coming forward. Henry has kicks blocked and checked, but he slings a right hand that wobbles Assuncao. Henry strings several punches together, and Assuncao fires back with reckless abandon and far more power. Assuncao scoops up a leg and dumps Henry to the mat, and like the last two rounds, Henry threatens with a submission when landing. Assuncao turns through the possible triangle, but this allows Henry to stand back up. Henry walks Assuncao down and gets punched in the face for his effort, but not before landing a few shots of his own. Henry lashes out with an elbow, and Assuncao backs off and gives him a thumbs-up for the effective blow. Assuncao catches a body kick and drives Henry from wall to wall, but this time, there is no takedown to be had. Henry springs away and walks into a crisp right hand, and Henry shakes it out and eats a follow-up right hand. Henry slides out of the way from a power punch, but they are not one-and-done for the grizzled veteran. Henry absorbs a pair of knees up the middle as they get too close, and he resets and rushes forward with a right hand and a body kick. Assuncao clinches him up, and Henry attempts to dump him down but settles to release him and line up a solid one-two. Assuncao dives down for a double, where he switches to a single and picks Henry’s right leg up but cannot get the leverage to ground him. Henry tries to sneak in short shots on the inside while Assuncao is still hanging on to the leg, and he manages to keep his balance with his back against the wire. Henry sets it down with 10 seconds to spare, and Assuncao cracks him with a left hand. Henry races after him in hopes of one last ditch effort, but the bell rings to conclude the close match before he can reach his aging but very game opponent.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Assuncao (29-28 Assuncao)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Assuncao (29-28 Assuncao)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Assuncao (29-28 Assuncao)
The Official Result
Raphael Assuncao def. Victor Henry via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Angelo picks Victor Henry, citing his impressive UFC debut over Honey Barcelos where he landed 222 strikes and defended six takedowns. He notes that Assunção is on a four-fight losing streak and older, but warns that the line (3-to-1) is wide and that Honey Barcelos looked bad in that fight. He thinks Victor wins but cautions that the odds may be too high for a confident bet.
Big Brady confidently picks Victor Henry to win by decision. He notes that Assunção is 40, on a four-fight skid, and has very low volume, while Henry throws a ton of strikes (352 in his last fight). He believes Henry's pressure and output will overwhelm Assunção, and that Assunção's only path is wrestling, but Henry's takedown defense looked good against Barcelos. Brady sees a potential late finish but calls it a decision.
Cody picks Victor Henry confidently, citing his impressive performance against Ronnie Barcelos where he landed 180 significant strikes. He notes Henry has volume, wrestling, and has fought tough competition in Japan. He thinks Assunção is old, slow, and has declined, and Henry should win by decision or TKO.
Henry is younger and in his prime, while Assunção is 40 and on a four-fight losing streak, with three finishes. Henry's pressure and volume should overwhelm Assunção, who may have declined durability. Henry is not a big power puncher, so a decision is likely. The host recommends parlaying Henry or taking the decision prop at +120.
Paul is confident in Victor Henry, noting his extensive career in Japan with wins over multiple UFC veterans. He thinks Henry's volume and wrestling will be too much for Assunção, who is 40 years old and has been knocked out in his last two fights. He picks Henry by decision but notes a TKO is possible.
The MMA Guru picks Victor Henry as a no-brainer, citing his impressive short-notice win over Hani Barcelos. He notes that Assunção has shown a chin change after KO losses and may be hesitant. He believes Henry's pressure, size, and reach advantage will break Assunção over three rounds, winning by unanimous decision 30-27.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cody Garbrandt | 0 | 17 of 52 | 32% | 17 of 52 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Raphael Assunção | 1 | 19 of 43 | 44% | 20 of 45 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cody Garbrandt | 0 | 9 of 23 | 39% | 9 of 23 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Raphael Assunção | 0 | 8 of 20 | 40% | 8 of 20 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Cody Garbrandt | 0 | 8 of 29 | 27% | 8 of 29 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Raphael Assunção | 1 | 11 of 23 | 47% | 12 of 25 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cody Garbrandt | 17 of 52 | 32% | 4 of 25 | 2 of 11 | 11 of 16 | 17 of 52 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Raphael Assunção | 19 of 43 | 44% | 7 of 24 | 2 of 5 | 10 of 14 | 19 of 43 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cody Garbrandt | 9 of 23 | 39% | 2 of 11 | 0 of 4 | 7 of 8 | 9 of 23 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Raphael Assunção | 8 of 20 | 40% | 1 of 10 | 0 of 2 | 7 of 8 | 8 of 20 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Cody Garbrandt | 8 of 29 | 27% | 2 of 14 | 2 of 7 | 4 of 8 | 8 of 29 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Raphael Assunção | 11 of 23 | 47% | 6 of 14 | 2 of 3 | 3 of 6 | 11 of 23 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Big Brady picks Raphael Assunção by second-round knockout, citing Garbrandt's poor chin and recent knockout losses. He thinks Assunção has underrated power and will catch Garbrandt. He acknowledges Garbrandt is the better striker but cannot trust his chin. He notes Assunção is the underdog and sees value.
Daniel believes Assunção's counter-striking style is a bad matchup for Garbrandt, who tends to get reckless when hurt. He notes Garbrandt's chin is compromised and that Munoz chopped his legs with calf kicks, which may have led to his desperate rush. He sees Assunção winning a close decision or possibly catching Garbrandt with counters, and calls it a dog-or-pass situation.
Cody Garbrandt has heavy hands and great footwork, and working with Mark Henry should improve his game planning. Raphael Assunção is a counter-striker with leg kicks, but Garbrandt's power and movement can overcome that. Garbrandt's chin has been questioned, but if he fights disciplined, he can land a knockout. The under 2.5 rounds is also a good play.
The MMA Guru picks Raphael Assunção over Cody Garbrandt. He believes Garbrandt has an emotional issue that can't be trained out, leading to him getting KO'd again. He notes that Assunção has been training consistently and will crack Garbrandt with a big shot, finishing him in the first round by KO. He admits he previously picked Garbrandt but is done betting on him.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 45 of 81 | 55% | 65 of 103 | 4 of 6 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 2:10 |
| Raphael Assunção | 0 | 62 of 116 | 53% | 78 of 135 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 1 | 3:46 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 16 of 34 | 47% | 17 of 35 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:06 |
| Raphael Assunção | 0 | 25 of 52 | 48% | 30 of 58 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:35 | |
| 2 | Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 13 of 19 | 68% | 20 of 28 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:57 |
| Raphael Assunção | 0 | 14 of 20 | 70% | 22 of 29 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 2:53 | |
| 3 | Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 16 of 28 | 57% | 28 of 40 | 3 of 4 | 75% | 0 | 0 | 1:07 |
| Raphael Assunção | 0 | 23 of 44 | 52% | 26 of 48 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:18 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cory Sandhagen | 45 of 81 | 55% | 15 of 50 | 20 of 20 | 10 of 11 | 30 of 65 | 12 of 13 | 3 of 3 |
| Raphael Assunção | 62 of 116 | 53% | 23 of 67 | 16 of 21 | 23 of 28 | 55 of 108 | 3 of 4 | 4 of 4 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cory Sandhagen | 16 of 34 | 47% | 3 of 20 | 9 of 9 | 4 of 5 | 11 of 29 | 5 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
| Raphael Assunção | 25 of 52 | 48% | 8 of 31 | 6 of 8 | 11 of 13 | 25 of 52 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Cory Sandhagen | 13 of 19 | 68% | 4 of 10 | 6 of 6 | 3 of 3 | 6 of 11 | 4 of 5 | 3 of 3 |
| Raphael Assunção | 14 of 20 | 70% | 2 of 7 | 6 of 6 | 6 of 7 | 8 of 13 | 2 of 3 | 4 of 4 | |
| 3 | Cory Sandhagen | 16 of 28 | 57% | 8 of 20 | 5 of 5 | 3 of 3 | 13 of 25 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Raphael Assunção | 23 of 44 | 52% | 13 of 29 | 4 of 7 | 6 of 8 | 22 of 43 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marlon Moraes | 0 | 2 of 12 | 16% | 3 of 13 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Raphael Assunção | 1 | 10 of 23 | 43% | 12 of 25 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 1:15 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marlon Moraes | 0 | 2 of 12 | 16% | 3 of 13 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Raphael Assunção | 1 | 10 of 23 | 43% | 12 of 25 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 1:15 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marlon Moraes | 2 of 12 | 16% | 1 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Raphael Assunção | 10 of 23 | 43% | 8 of 17 | 0 of 2 | 2 of 4 | 7 of 18 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 5 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marlon Moraes | 2 of 12 | 16% | 1 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Raphael Assunção | 10 of 23 | 43% | 8 of 17 | 0 of 2 | 2 of 4 | 7 of 18 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 5 |
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raphael Assunção | 0 | 54 of 120 | 45% | 93 of 161 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 4:31 |
| Rob Font | 0 | 20 of 122 | 16% | 20 of 122 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raphael Assunção | 0 | 14 of 41 | 34% | 14 of 41 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Rob Font | 0 | 10 of 61 | 16% | 10 of 61 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Raphael Assunção | 0 | 15 of 34 | 44% | 34 of 55 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:15 |
| Rob Font | 0 | 5 of 25 | 20% | 5 of 25 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Raphael Assunção | 0 | 25 of 45 | 55% | 45 of 65 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:16 |
| Rob Font | 0 | 5 of 36 | 13% | 5 of 36 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raphael Assunção | 54 of 120 | 45% | 41 of 98 | 4 of 7 | 9 of 15 | 36 of 95 | 1 of 1 | 17 of 24 |
| Rob Font | 20 of 122 | 16% | 12 of 105 | 6 of 10 | 2 of 7 | 20 of 122 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raphael Assunção | 14 of 41 | 34% | 7 of 29 | 1 of 2 | 6 of 10 | 13 of 40 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Rob Font | 10 of 61 | 16% | 5 of 47 | 3 of 7 | 2 of 7 | 10 of 61 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Raphael Assunção | 15 of 34 | 44% | 13 of 29 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 3 | 7 of 24 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 10 |
| Rob Font | 5 of 25 | 20% | 3 of 23 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 25 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Raphael Assunção | 25 of 45 | 55% | 21 of 40 | 2 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 16 of 31 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 14 |
| Rob Font | 5 of 36 | 13% | 4 of 35 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 36 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raphael Assunção | 1 | 46 of 154 | 29% | 48 of 156 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
| Matthew Lopez | 0 | 34 of 93 | 36% | 36 of 95 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 0:28 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raphael Assunção | 0 | 18 of 73 | 24% | 19 of 74 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Matthew Lopez | 0 | 18 of 43 | 41% | 18 of 43 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:17 | |
| 2 | Raphael Assunção | 0 | 20 of 55 | 36% | 21 of 56 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Matthew Lopez | 0 | 11 of 39 | 28% | 13 of 41 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:11 | |
| 3 | Raphael Assunção | 1 | 8 of 26 | 30% | 8 of 26 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
| Matthew Lopez | 0 | 5 of 11 | 45% | 5 of 11 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raphael Assunção | 46 of 154 | 29% | 24 of 123 | 6 of 12 | 16 of 19 | 45 of 153 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Matthew Lopez | 34 of 93 | 36% | 16 of 68 | 12 of 19 | 6 of 6 | 34 of 93 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raphael Assunção | 18 of 73 | 24% | 10 of 61 | 2 of 5 | 6 of 7 | 17 of 72 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Matthew Lopez | 18 of 43 | 41% | 8 of 31 | 6 of 8 | 4 of 4 | 18 of 43 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Raphael Assunção | 20 of 55 | 36% | 11 of 43 | 3 of 5 | 6 of 7 | 20 of 55 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Matthew Lopez | 11 of 39 | 28% | 6 of 31 | 3 of 6 | 2 of 2 | 11 of 39 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Raphael Assunção | 8 of 26 | 30% | 3 of 19 | 1 of 2 | 4 of 5 | 8 of 26 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Matthew Lopez | 5 of 11 | 45% | 2 of 6 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Aljamain Sterling - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 46 of 89 | 51% | 220 of 293 | 6 of 11 | 54% | 1 | 0 | 13:49 |
| Youssef Zalal | 0 | 35 of 65 | 53% | 61 of 97 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 3:59 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 8 of 24 | 33% | 15 of 31 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 2:19 |
| Youssef Zalal | 0 | 4 of 16 | 25% | 17 of 33 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 15 of 29 | 51% | 67 of 88 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 2:25 |
| Youssef Zalal | 0 | 15 of 23 | 65% | 16 of 24 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 11 of 14 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:47 |
| Youssef Zalal | 0 | 3 of 4 | 75% | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 3:48 | |
| 4 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 16 of 22 | 72% | 81 of 101 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 4:16 |
| Youssef Zalal | 0 | 3 of 4 | 75% | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:11 | |
| 5 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 5 of 11 | 45% | 46 of 59 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 4:02 |
| Youssef Zalal | 0 | 10 of 18 | 55% | 21 of 30 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aljamain Sterling | 46 of 89 | 51% | 25 of 56 | 12 of 16 | 9 of 17 | 25 of 59 | 15 of 22 | 6 of 8 |
| Youssef Zalal | 35 of 65 | 53% | 25 of 51 | 6 of 7 | 4 of 7 | 32 of 62 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aljamain Sterling | 8 of 24 | 33% | 5 of 14 | 2 of 3 | 1 of 7 | 5 of 19 | 0 of 1 | 3 of 4 |
| Youssef Zalal | 4 of 16 | 25% | 3 of 11 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 4 | 4 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Aljamain Sterling | 15 of 29 | 51% | 6 of 17 | 5 of 6 | 4 of 6 | 10 of 23 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Youssef Zalal | 15 of 23 | 65% | 11 of 19 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 15 of 23 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Aljamain Sterling | 2 of 3 | 66% | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Youssef Zalal | 3 of 4 | 75% | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 4 | Aljamain Sterling | 16 of 22 | 72% | 9 of 13 | 4 of 6 | 3 of 3 | 6 of 9 | 8 of 11 | 2 of 2 |
| Youssef Zalal | 3 of 4 | 75% | 1 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 5 | Aljamain Sterling | 5 of 11 | 45% | 4 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 7 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 2 |
| Youssef Zalal | 10 of 18 | 55% | 8 of 16 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 17 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Zalal (-160); Sterling (+135)
Round 1
Say what we will about UFC card structure and matchmaking as of late, Sterling (25-5, 17-5 UFC) vs. Zalal (18-5-1, 8-3-1 UFC) is a dope matchup. We’ll let them do the talking from here, as referee Herb Dean handles the particulars and draws out a glove touch. It’s time for a featherweight main event.
The two bounce towards and measure one another, with Sterling the one advancing and throwing the majority of the offense early on. Zalal counters with a sharp left hand, and he keeps his jab outstretched. Sterling offers up a number of kicks, missing on several of them. He catches up to “The Moroccan Devil” with a reaching right hand, but it is one-and-done. Sterling circles from side to side while Zalal aims jabs at him, and he shoots in for a single and lifts one of his foe’s legs in the air.
Sterling transitions to a body lock, and when he does not get as Zalal circles out, Sterling trips him up on the way out. Zalal gathers himself easily enough and is about to leap at Sterling with a knee, but Sterling kicks his plant leg out from beneath him to race on top and establish top control. Sterling advances to half guard fairly comfortably while Zalal bops him in either side of the head with his free left fist, and he offers a few elbows off his back as well. Zalal keeps attacking until he can suddenly throw his legs up for a potential armbar. Sterling sits up and takes a breath to calm himself, not twisting or wriggling to put himself further in danger. The former champ works out of it and repositions himself back into half guard. Zalal goes for the triangle again, shoving Sterling back a smidge with an upkick to the chest. Before Zalal can stand, Sterling leaps on top of him and drives knees and elbows to the side until five minutes are up.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Round 2
There is a quick glove touch to get started, and Sterling winds up behind two powerful low kicks. Zalal quickly rushes back to circle away from the impact of those kicks, putting his back to the wall and exposing himself for the takedown that comes naturally from the former champ. Sterling considers a single but threatens with a body lock and lets go to scores a few punches. Zalal tries to time him on the way out but is out of range. He does chase Sterling down behind his fists, and he knees Sterling square in the beard. Sterling no-sells it like The Great Antonio against Antonio Inoki and puts the pressure on his foe. Zalal circles and drives home a right hand on the side of the dome. Both men take downs advancing, finding their way to attack and disengaging when it does not fully work. Sterling drops down for a single when pushing Zalal to the fencing, and he stands Zalal up with a couple of big punches on the break.
Zalal tries for another knee, and he wades back as Sterling lunges at him with long, winding hooks. Zalal’s jab is much straighter and quicker, ringing up Sterling a few times and forcing the former champ to try more unorthodox approaches like off-balance punches and oddly timed shots. Zalal spins to complete a back fist, and Sterling ducks it and tackles Zalal to the floor. Sterling hooks his legs around the waist to lock down a body triangle, where he postures up to hammer Zalal with punches to both sides of the head. Zalal turns all the way to give up his back, briefly breaking the body lock but unable to escape from the punches and hammerfists consistently raining down on him. Sterling bludgeons Zalal with well over a dozen unanswered strikes until Zalal turns away and tries to protect his neck. Sterling reasserts his dominant position when they both sit up, with his rapping his left hand around the guard again and again until the round is over.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Round 3
Zalal lands a low kick and immediately has to back off, with Sterling quick to corner him aiming body shots and pump-faking his hips. Sterling catches a knee on the chin and drives through to get hold of a single, bringing Zalal to a knee with his foe’s side against the fencing. When Zalal stands back up, he wraps up a guillotine choke, only for Sterling to scoop him up and deposit him gingerly down like a parent putting their young child on a diaper changing table in a public restroom. Zalal’s choke suddenly grows much tighter as Sterling finds himself in submission danger, but like before, the calm, cool cucumber that is the former champion moves just enough to relieve the tension on his throat and free himself. Zalal does establish himself on top after letting the choke go, but Sterling’s scrambles defend him from much of the ground-and-pound.
Sterling looks to push off the hips with butterfly hooks, switching suddenly to wrap up a partial triangle choke. When Zalal stands up to free his neck from the choke setup, Sterling belts him in the face with a crisp upkick. Zalal nods in approval and lowers himself back into the guard uncontested, where he maneuvers himself into side control and takes the back when Sterling scrambles. Zalal ties up a body triangle when he assumes back control, and Sterling sits up and defends his neck from any chokes coming his way. Zalal clings to his adversary but cannot isolate the neck, although his control ability and time sends a clear message. When Sterling gets to one knee, the round concludes.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Zalal
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Zalal
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Zalal
Round 4
Sterling walks down Zalal as soon as the round begins, slugging him with several right hands and slinging numerous leg kicks. Zalal’s reaction changes and his body language gets worse as Sterling keeps battering his leg with powerful kicks. Sterling closes in and grabs Zalal from behind, rolling him to the mat and completing the body triangle less than a minute into the round. Sterling softens Zalal up with a steady stream of strong left hands, trapping Zalal with his arm on the other side. Sterling holds his choke arm very closely to under the chin, and Zalal motions that he is thinking about tapping but does not give up. Sterling cinches the forearm under the chin, and he has Zalal’s left arm trapped in the submission so he cannot quite finish it. Zalal grimaces and toughs it out as best he can, rolling over to his stomach to reduce the pressure.
Sterling yanks him back over and has the body triangle just as frustratingly tight as ever. Zalal turns to try to break up the body lock, and he is constantly absorbing strike after unanswered strike. Zalal rolls to his back, with Sterling fully in mount, and it is Sterling who holds on with an arm-triangle choke. The former champ decides not to lock it down so he can bash Zalal in the face again and again. Zalal somehow fights out of the body lock and wills himself back to his feet, but he is under fire immediately as Sterling tears into him with body shots, knees and a few elbows. As he beats down Zalal against the wall, the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Sterling
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-8 Sterling
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-8 Sterling
Round 5
Although Zalal initially comes out aggressively in the final frame, Sterling shuts him down before long with pressure and the threat of a looming takedown. Zalal ignores his concerns and lets his hands go, connecting squarely with a few punches to drive Sterling back. Sterling knows that his best path to victory is through his grappling, and he engages it. Pressing Zalal to the fencing, Sterling hunts for a single and transitions to a body lock with an outside trip. Zalal remains upright but is being controlled as precious seconds tick off the clock. Zalal pushes off at the midpoint of the round, and he throws once before Sterling is on him like a cheap suit.
Sterling swings like a Tasmanian devil, a veritable cloud of feet and fists surrounding him as he smashes directly into Zalal. Sterling’s strikes open up the takedown, which he completes and takes the wind out of the younger man’s sails. When Zalal turns, he exposes himself to the back take magician. Unsurprisingly, Sterling gladly secures back control with his body triangle locked down, and he starts railing Zalal with his left hand en masse. Zalal turns to take the sting out of it, and Sterling follows him and sticks his tongue out while grinning and nodding. Zalal turns to try to brawl while on the mat, and when he sits up, Sterling bludgeons, batters and bruises him with double axe handle smashes and Sakuraba-esque double punches. The moment the final horn blares, Sterling disengages, and he pumps his arms in the air certain that the victory is likely moments away.
The former training partners share plenty of laughs and good spirits after 25 minutes of combat. The victorious Sterling praises Zalal, suggesting that Zalal could fight for a title in the future. Until that happens, Sterling believes it is his time at 145 pounds. He asks for another fight against Movsar Evloev, while saying that he is also coming for champion Alexander Volkanovski. If that latter fight comes together, we will be here for it. We hope you are too.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sterling (49-45 Sterling)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Sterling (49-45 Sterling)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Sterling (49-45 Sterling)
The Official Result
Aljamain Sterling def. Youssef Zalal via Unanimous Decision (49-45, 49-45, 49-45)
Angelo leans on Aljamain Sterling, citing his five-round experience and wrestling edge. He acknowledges that Youssef Zalal is the better striker but believes Sterling's wrestling will be superior, referencing Sterling's performance against Movsar Evloev. He notes that Sterling opened as a favorite but is now an underdog, and he encourages rewatching the Evloev fight to see Sterling's scrambling ability.
Big Brady picks Youssef Zalal over Aljamain Sterling. He notes Zalal's recent improvements and finishing ability, and believes Zalal's cardio and pace will be advantages in a five-round fight. He thinks Sterling may slow down as the fight progresses, and predicts Zalal wins by decision.
The host leans Zalal due to his output, aggression, pace, and volume, plus Sterling's decline and lack of power. However, he admits it's impossible to form a strong opinion because Zalal hasn't faced a wrestler like Sterling in years. He calls the odds fair coin-flip territory and passes on betting.
James picks Youssef Zalal based on stylistic matchup, believing Zalal's footwork and striking will cause problems for Sterling. He notes Zalal's recent improvements and age advantage, and predicts a finish inside the distance as Sterling gets desperate with takedowns.
Zalal is on an eight-fight winning streak with improved wrestling and submission defense. Sterling is a former champion but is 36 and has a questionable gas tank. Zalal should be able to defend Sterling's grappling, use his striking edge, and win a decision. He is the younger, more confident fighter with momentum.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 55 of 174 | 31% | 100 of 225 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:08 |
| Brian Ortega | 0 | 124 of 227 | 54% | 153 of 262 | 3 of 6 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 3:55 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 2 of 28 | 7% | 2 of 28 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Brian Ortega | 0 | 27 of 44 | 61% | 27 of 44 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 9 of 40 | 22% | 9 of 40 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Brian Ortega | 0 | 13 of 54 | 24% | 13 of 54 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 21 of 42 | 50% | 21 of 42 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Brian Ortega | 0 | 35 of 52 | 67% | 35 of 52 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 4 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 13 of 37 | 35% | 29 of 55 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
| Brian Ortega | 0 | 25 of 39 | 64% | 35 of 49 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:36 | |
| 5 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 10 of 27 | 37% | 39 of 60 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:06 |
| Brian Ortega | 0 | 24 of 38 | 63% | 43 of 63 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 2:19 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aljamain Sterling | 55 of 174 | 31% | 30 of 138 | 20 of 29 | 5 of 7 | 54 of 173 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
| Brian Ortega | 124 of 227 | 54% | 77 of 175 | 21 of 26 | 26 of 26 | 100 of 198 | 7 of 7 | 17 of 22 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aljamain Sterling | 2 of 28 | 7% | 2 of 25 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 28 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Brian Ortega | 27 of 44 | 61% | 16 of 32 | 3 of 4 | 8 of 8 | 27 of 44 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Aljamain Sterling | 9 of 40 | 22% | 5 of 33 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 1 | 9 of 40 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Brian Ortega | 13 of 54 | 24% | 6 of 44 | 1 of 4 | 6 of 6 | 12 of 53 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Aljamain Sterling | 21 of 42 | 50% | 8 of 27 | 8 of 10 | 5 of 5 | 21 of 42 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Brian Ortega | 35 of 52 | 67% | 25 of 42 | 2 of 2 | 8 of 8 | 34 of 51 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 4 | Aljamain Sterling | 13 of 37 | 35% | 8 of 29 | 5 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 12 of 36 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
| Brian Ortega | 25 of 39 | 64% | 13 of 26 | 9 of 10 | 3 of 3 | 16 of 30 | 3 of 3 | 6 of 6 | |
| 5 | Aljamain Sterling | 10 of 27 | 37% | 7 of 24 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 10 of 27 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Brian Ortega | 24 of 38 | 63% | 17 of 31 | 6 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 11 of 20 | 2 of 2 | 11 of 16 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
On merit and divisional relevance, this probably should have been the main event, but that divisional relevance was obliterated by Ortega’s weight cut failure, leading to a 153-pound catchweight affair. It’s still a hell of a fight, however, and when the featherweight contenders go to work, Herb Dean will be tasked with his final referee assignment of the event. Both men are in orthodox stance to open things up, and both come up short with reaching jabs in the first exchanges. Ortega goes southpaw. Thirty seconds in, Sterling feints his first level change, but no takedown attempt follows. Sterling throws a one-two that Ortega slips by pulling his head straight back, then nearly spills him with a nicely timed low kick. Sterling lands a pair of glancing punches and easily eludes the counter. Ortega is barely throwing anything back thus far in the fight. As I type that, he launches a blistering right cross that comes up just barely short. Two minutes left in the first round and Sterling lands another solid low kick—an investment in attrition, especially if this goes into the scheduled fourth and fifth rounds. Sterling with another chopping low kick that lands high on the calf. With under 30 seconds to go, it’s been all Sterling, but Ortega comes forward and lands his best punch of the round before the horn.
10-9 Sterling.
Round 2
Sterling is busy with the jab right away. Ortega throws a high kick that Sterling evades by slipping his head off the center line. Sterling is methodical, coming forward with his jab and cross, nailing Ortega with a calf kick anytime he stands his ground. It isn’t dazzling but it’s brutally effective, as Ortega is throwing next to nothing, aside from single big shots. Sterling tries a spinning backfist that glances without damage. Ortega takes the front foot midway through the round, backing up the former bantamweight champ and throwing righty haymakers. Sterling gives ground, keeps his chin out of range and keeps working on the lead leg. Sterling catches Ortega with a sweeping right hook and Ortega backs off, pawing at his left eye. Sterling looks at the referee, who states that it was a punch, not a finger, and indicates that they should keep fighting. They do not do so immediately, Sterling does not press the issue, and the result is effectively a 45-second timeout after no foul. Once they resume fighting, the round ends without any more substantive offense from either man.
10-9 Sterling.
Round 3
Sterling has to walk two-thirds of the way across the Octagon in order to touch gloves with Ortega; a decent metaphor for this fight in general. Ortega comes forward, snapping out his jab, and tags Sterling with a low kick. Ortega fires off another kick, this one clattering audibly off of Sterling’s cup, but Sterling waves off any intervention by Dean. Sterling continues to give ground in the face of Ortega’s advance, but is still landing more and better strikes. Ortega gets through with another good leg kick, and Sterling catches his next one, hoisting the kicking leg and punching him before letting go. Sterling snaps Ortega’s head back with a jab, then sits him down with a calf kick. Ortega pops back to his feet and lands a good low kick of his own. Sterling steps forward and connects with a long jab. Ortega marches Sterling to the fence but can’t capitalize before he slips out the side. Under a minute to go and Ortega is definitely the aggressor, but that shouldn’t be enough to win the round in the face of the disparity in offense. Ortega catches a kick but can’t land anything of consequence. Ortega fires off a stream of punches at the clapper, but it’s Sterling who connects with a spinning back elbow.
10-9 Sterling.
Round 4
The fourth round begins with Ortega down three to zero on our scorecard, but showing signs of life at the end of the last frame. “T-City” keeps up the pressure, stalking Sterling and trying to back him into the fence. Sterling continues to give ground, but he is still the one landing more and harder strikes. Ortega finally corrals him against the cage, but Sterling slips a couple of haymakers and makes his way back to open space. Two minutes into the round, Ortega is game but still a step behind, as he has been for essentially the entire fight. Sterling snaps his head back with a jab, then delivers another kick to Ortega’s battered left calf. Ortega makes things interesting, swarming forward, catching Sterling against the fence and throwing a flurry of punches with both hands. Many of them glance, but enough of them land that Sterling has to cover and back off. Ortega clinches with him against the fence, and Sterling dumps him to the canvas a moment later, settling in the jiu-jitsu ace’s full guard. Sterling is defensively sound and heavy on top, keeping his posture low while throwing short punches and looking to pass the guard. He postures up and drops a couple of punches and elbows before the horn.
10-9 Sterling.
Round 5
Ortega gets the now-or-never pep talk from his corner before the final round, and comes out hot. Sterling meets him with yet another hard low kick, but he’s forced to retreat in the face of Ortega’s attack. Ortega catches Sterling with a wide hook, his best punch of the fight, and Sterling backs off. Ortega initiates a takedown, but Sterling lands in top position, in Ortega’s full guard. Sterling postures up to look for ground strikes, then stand up out of the guard, and as Ortega gets up, Sterling catches him with a timed, but legal, knee to the dome. Ortega gets to his feet and catches Sterling with a right hand that hurts him. Sterling is in retreat, trying to recover and evade further damage as Ortega gives chase. He avoids the follow-up, but the strategy is so obvious that he draws a warning from Dean for timidity. Ortega crashes the pocket and clinches, but as the go down, it’s Sterling who takes Ortega’s back. Sterling sinks his hooks in and looks for a choke, but Ortega sweeps to top position. Sterling sweeps him right back and throws leather from guard until the horn.
10-9 Sterling (50-45 Sterling).
The Official Result
Aljamain Sterling def. Brian Ortega via Unanimous Decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
Angelo is extremely confident in Aljamain Sterling, calling him a backpack grappler with developed striking and spectacular ground game. He dismisses Brian Ortega as not very good anymore, relying only on toughness. He expects Sterling to get takedowns and dominate on the ground, likely by decision due to Ortega's toughness. He says this is one of his most confident picks on the card.
Big Brady picks Aljamain Sterling to win by decision, citing Sterling's minute-winning ability on the feet and slick grappling. He notes that Sterling throws high volume and can take Ortega down, though he must watch for submissions. He believes Ortega is dangerous but hittable, and that Sterling will control the fight and win a decision.
Connor notes that Brian Ortega's game has disintegrated; he used to rely on durability but now gets hurt early in fights. He highlights that Ortega is a guard grappler but hasn't gotten a guard submission since 2017, and his wrestling is an afterthought. Sterling, on the other hand, is a much better wrestler who can dictate grappling exchanges and pile up volume on the feet. Connor is curious to see how Sterling handles Ortega's guard, but believes Sterling's positional grappling will keep him on top.
The host sees this as a fun grappling matchup, but thinks Sterling's advantage in wrestling and control will shut down Ortega's aggressive BJJ. He expects Sterling to grind out a boring fight and win on the scorecards.
The MMA Guru picks Aljamain Sterling to win by decision, citing Ortega's poor weight cut and zombie-like appearance at weigh-ins. He believes Sterling is more disciplined and professional, with better wrestling and positional grappling. He notes that Sterling can avoid Ortega's submission threats by pushing him against the cage and working from the back. He also thinks Sterling will do well on the feet, as Ortega has looked lost there at times.
Zane agrees that Sterling is the pick, citing Ortega's decline and the fact that he gets hurt in every fight now. He points out that Ortega's entire career has been about absorbing damage, and that Sterling's wrestling and speed will give Ortega problems. Zane also notes that Sterling has never faced a guard grappler like Ortega, but believes Sterling's mindful positional grappling will avoid spending much time in Ortega's guard.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Movsar Evloev | 0 | 8 of 26 | 30% | 136 of 165 | 4 of 5 | 80% | 0 | 1 | 6:09 |
| Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 12 of 26 | 46% | 45 of 67 | 6 of 8 | 75% | 0 | 2 | 6:16 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Movsar Evloev | 0 | 1 of 6 | 16% | 16 of 26 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:55 |
| Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 3 of 11 | 27% | 7 of 18 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:49 | |
| 2 | Movsar Evloev | 0 | 3 of 9 | 33% | 48 of 58 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:25 |
| Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 5 of 8 | 62% | 25 of 30 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 2 | 0:48 | |
| 3 | Movsar Evloev | 0 | 4 of 11 | 36% | 72 of 81 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 1 | 1:49 |
| Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 4 of 7 | 57% | 13 of 19 | 3 of 3 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:39 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Movsar Evloev | 8 of 26 | 30% | 6 of 23 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 2 | 6 of 22 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 3 |
| Aljamain Sterling | 12 of 26 | 46% | 7 of 16 | 5 of 8 | 0 of 2 | 9 of 23 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Movsar Evloev | 1 of 6 | 16% | 0 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 5 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Aljamain Sterling | 3 of 11 | 27% | 1 of 5 | 2 of 5 | 0 of 1 | 3 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Movsar Evloev | 3 of 9 | 33% | 2 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Aljamain Sterling | 5 of 8 | 62% | 3 of 6 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Movsar Evloev | 4 of 11 | 36% | 4 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 3 |
| Aljamain Sterling | 4 of 7 | 57% | 3 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Evloev (-265), Sterling (+215)
Round 1
Surprising many paying attention, this likely featherweight title eliminator is situated firmly on the prelims despite several lower-ranked contests at 145 playing out later on the billing. Evloev (18-0, 8-0 UFC) is not complaining, as he noted—likely accurately at that—that more people will be watching the ESPN-broadcasted prelims than tuning into the paid portion later. Sterling (24-4, 16-4 UFC) is not buying it and feels disrespected by his promotion, but that is nothing unusual for him given his history at bantamweight. This potentially fascinating grappling match will play out under the oversight of referee Jason Herzog, and it opens up with a glove touch. Sterling stalks his way forward, jabbing his way in and kicking with the ball of his foot. Evloev hops out of the way from a body kick, and one to his lead leg lands. Sterling catches him at the end of a right hand, and the Russian shrugs it off. Evloev kicks the front leg, and Sterling tries to time a head kick when Evloev ducks. Sterling connects with another big right hand, and he shoots in and drags Evloev down to force Evloev to put his hands on the mat. Chants of “USA” boom through the arena, and Sterling channels this energy and knees Evloev hard in the side. Sterling hangs on from the side and nearly back, and he complains that Evloev is grabbing his glove. Evloev adjusts and scoots his way to the wall, with Sterling following him every scoot of the way. Sterling has his hands clasped around Evloev’s waist, and he gets in a hook to take the back. “Funk Master” slides the second hook in, and he holds on tight while trying to free his right hand to set something up. Sterling again mentions that his glove is being grabbed, and Evloev elbows behind him on either side. Evloev stands up, and Sterling is still wrapped around him. The former bantamweight king lifts Evloev off the ground and slams him down, and the ensuing scramble allows Evloev to take his back. Sterling ducks a strike and is taken to the floor, and he sets up a guillotine choke but is in the wrong angle to get it. Evloev turns the corner as Sterling sits up, and he lowers himself down and wraps Sterling up in a crucifix as he drops to his back. The close round ends with Sterling taking punches upside the head.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Round 2
Sterling is the initial aggressor in the second round, pushing out a front kick, dropping back to avoid a few punches and crashing through to put Evloev on his seat. Evloev scrambles well enough to get to 50/50 position, and he stands up as Sterling holds onto his single leg. Evloev flips him around and lowers himself down in side control, hooking his legs around Sterling’s arm to go for a crucifix. Evloev takes the back, but Sterling pulls his hook out and turns. Evloev lands a few hammerfists to the side of the head as Herzog says “ears” a few times to let Evloev know that he needs to aim for the ears and not hit the back of the head. Sterling explodes around to get out of harm, and he wraps up Evloev and tries to slam him down on his face in what would have been a pro wrestling-style move. Evloev does not fall victim to it, turning around to shoot for a single. Sterling stifles it and loads up on a right hand, and Evloev backs him off with a right hand and a kick. Evloev wings a spinning wheel kick, and when planting his foot, he drills “Funk Master” in the face with a strong right hand. The success of the strike allows the Russian to shoot in and put Sterling on his back. Evloev looks to assert himself in half guard, even briefly considering an arm-triangle choke only to get elbowed in the side of the head a few times. Evloev takes Sterling’s back, and Sterling does not appear concern and instead scrambles out of it without much concern. Evloev again sets up a crucifix, and Sterling counters with a single and briefly gets top position. This back-and-forth grappling match is living up to the hype, and Sterling pursues a double when Evloev gets away. The horn sounds with Sterling in the midst of the shot.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Evloev
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Evloev
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Evloev
Round 3
Having reached the final round, both men clap hands. Sterling flashes out a front kick and a long jab, and he is able to escape the lunging Evloev from landing on him. Sterling ducks a big punch and gets off an uppercut, and he dips down low to evade a spinning back fist and tackles the Russian to the floor. Evloev returns to a knee, and Sterling remains busy pursuing the takedown. Evloev wraps an arm around Sterling’s head, and Sterling takes advantage of this by slinging Evloev down on his face. Evloev pushes off the floor to stand, and Sterling is leaning on him imposing his will while the crowd is in full support of the American. Sterling jams Evloev against the fence, allowing Evloev to knee him so he can move around to partially take Evloev’s back standing. Sterling drags Evloev to the floor, and as they slide around in a furious series of scrambles, Evloev flips his man over and resides on top. Evloev slugs Sterling in the chops a few times while they are both seated, and Sterling explodes back to his feet. Evloev whips Sterling around and back down, and he gets one hook in but is dropped on his head. Sterling does not escape the downed position, on both knees as Evloev punches him on the side of the head. Evloev turns Sterling to his back, and he opens up with punches. Sterling gets his hooks in and briefly holds the back, and when he scrambles, Evloev hooks his leg around Sterling’s shoulder. The final bell sounds while the two are in the midst of grappling, and it could be anyone’s game.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Evloev (29-28 Evloev)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Evloev (29-28 Evloev)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Evloev (29-28 Evloev)
The Official Result
Movsar Evloev def. Aljamain Sterling via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo picks Movsar Evloev confidently, stating Evloev is a better wrestler than Sterling and has superior striking. He dismisses Sterling's unorthodox striking as not intentionally effective. Angelo believes Evloev will take Sterling down at will and control the fight, similar to how he beat Arnold Allen. He expects a dominant performance.
Cody picks Sterling as a live underdog, citing his superior striking and wrestling. He notes Sterling's wins over top competition and believes his volume and back-taking ability will trouble Evloev. He expects a decision win for Sterling.
Connor picks Sterling because he believes Sterling has more tools to win if he can keep Evloev from wrestling. He notes that Evloev's pressure-based style can be shut down, and that Sterling's high-output striking and grappling are well-suited to a three-round fight. Connor also points out that Evloev has been walking a fine line and has been hurt in fights, while Sterling has shown improvement in his striking. He acknowledges that Sterling's cardio could be an issue but thinks over three rounds it might be enough.
Daniel believes Evloev is ahead in every area, with better grappling and striking. He criticizes Sterling's cardio, striking technique, and takedown entries. He notes Evloev's ability to survive submission attempts and his punching power, citing damage done to Arnold Allen.
Evloev's grappling ability and scrambling will keep him out of bad positions from Sterling. He can remain in dominant position or use defensive grappling to stay upright and touch up Sterling, who doesn't look comfortable striking. Evloev will put together a good body of work through grappling and striking to win on the scorecards.
Paul picks Sterling, calling it a lock. He highlights Sterling's technical skills, wrestling, and ability to win rounds. He thinks Evloev's takedowns won't be as effective and Sterling's striking advantage will be key. He expects a decision win.
The MMA Guru picks Evloev, believing he is too much for Sterling on the feet. He notes Evloev's improved standup, quicker punches, and ability to mix in takedowns. He trusts Evloev to win close rounds by shooting takedowns in the last 30 seconds to sway judges. He predicts a 29-27 decision with all rounds competitive.
Zane picks Evloev, citing that he does not fully trust Sterling as a featherweight. He notes that Sterling's style, which relies on volume and wrestling, may not work against a bigger, aggressive grappler like Evloev. Zane points out that Evloev has shown he can handle high-level grappling, as seen in his fight with Diego Lopez, and that Sterling has a history of gassing. He also mentions that Sterling has never faced a fighter like Evloev who is eager to grapple and pressure.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 8 of 29 | 27% | 19 of 40 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:05 |
| Calvin Kattar | 0 | 39 of 71 | 54% | 89 of 128 | 8 of 13 | 61% | 0 | 0 | 10:43 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 6 of 23 | 26% | 10 of 27 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Calvin Kattar | 0 | 15 of 33 | 45% | 16 of 35 | 4 of 7 | 57% | 0 | 0 | 1:51 | |
| 2 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 4 of 7 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Calvin Kattar | 0 | 14 of 20 | 70% | 30 of 37 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 4:10 | |
| 3 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:05 |
| Calvin Kattar | 0 | 10 of 18 | 55% | 43 of 56 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 4:42 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aljamain Sterling | 8 of 29 | 27% | 7 of 26 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 26 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 1 |
| Calvin Kattar | 39 of 71 | 54% | 12 of 40 | 15 of 17 | 12 of 14 | 23 of 46 | 5 of 5 | 11 of 20 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aljamain Sterling | 6 of 23 | 26% | 6 of 21 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 20 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 1 |
| Calvin Kattar | 15 of 33 | 45% | 4 of 20 | 3 of 4 | 8 of 9 | 12 of 27 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 5 | |
| 2 | Aljamain Sterling | 2 of 5 | 40% | 1 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Calvin Kattar | 14 of 20 | 70% | 4 of 9 | 7 of 8 | 3 of 3 | 9 of 15 | 4 of 4 | 1 of 1 | |
| 3 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Calvin Kattar | 10 of 18 | 55% | 4 of 11 | 5 of 5 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 14 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Sterling (-170), Kattar (+142)
Round 1
The storied rivalry of Boston vs. New York continues with a featherweight contest pitting “The Boston Finisher” Kattar (23-7, 7-5 UFC) against former bantamweight champ Sterling (23-9, 14-4 UFC). This will be a sink-or-swim moment for the New York-based funk-style wrestler, as he jumps into the deep end in his new weight class. The fighters will have 15 minutes or less to prove their case as contenders at 145 pounds, while referee Jason Herzog watches over every step of the way. Fists are not bumped, and instead Sterling wants to crowd forward and start attacking. Sterling reaches out with side kicks to the knee, and Kattar skirts out of the way a few times to take the sting out of them. Sterling wings a right hand that catches his foe on the side of the head, and Kattar stands form and moves away to check a low kick and push out his own jab. Kattar whips a head kick up and nearly clears the shoulder, but Sterling pushes past it and tries to tie him up. Kattar tosses him aside and slowly walks him down. Sterling fakes dropping down for a leg, and he fires off two wide hooks. A high kick from Sterling misses the mark, but several low kicks connect in succession. Sterling continues chipping away from afar with low kicks or the occasional one to the body, and he keeps Kattar from doing much. Sterling shoots in for a single, lifting Kattar’s leg up, but Kattar defends by scoring several punches up close. On Sterling’s second attempt, he leverages “The Boston Finisher” down to the canvas. Kattar pushes on the back of the head to stand back up, and Sterling lifts him off the ground to find a better angle to approach. Kattar leans with his back to the wall, and Sterling sneaks a single hook in as he methodically looks to take the back. Kattar muscles his way upright, and Sterling hits a quick mat return of sorts. Sterling wrenches Kattar all the way down to the ground, and he continues to set up his back take. Sterling ducks down, releasing the grip, so he can let loose a right hand over the top. Kattar sheds him, and he gets kicked in the ribs on the way out. Sterling pushes off his foe’s knee when Kattar advances, and he spins a spinning back fist as Kattar continues to walk him down. Sterling’s awkward movement and takedown efforts shut most of Kattar’s offense down, and Sterling manages to secure a single-leg takedown and climb on top to conclude the round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Christian Stein scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
James Mannino scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Round 2
Sterling commences the round with a low kick, and he kicks the other side to trip Kattar up when Kattar tries to throw a punch. Sterling chains a head kick into a level change, and he backs Kattar to the wire and drives a knee to the chest. Sterling trips Kattar’s other leg up to sit him down, and the audience starts to boo Sterling’s efforts. Sterling has a single deep, and he appears to motion or nod to Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg, who is sitting cageside. Sterling gets Kattar all the way down, only for the Massachusetts native bounce back to his feet in short order. Sterling keeps after a single until there is no way in, and he opts to split Kattar’s legs far apart against the fence to disrupt his balance. When that too does not result in a change in position, Sterling knees the thigh several times and tries to impose his body weight to drag Kattar down. Sterling has a knee brush on the cup of his foe, but Kattar signals he is fine. Sterling clings to his man until he slides off the side, and he dodges a front kick and advances with a trio of punches. Sterling retreats, circling away from anything Kattar tries to reach him with, until he kicks low and aims body shots. The punches from Sterling lead to a level change, where he completes an easy double to rend Kattar to the floor. Sterling moves to side control and stays there, where he holds Kattar down and thwarts any potential offense coming back his way. Sterling continues to grind in the position until the horn blares.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Christian Stein scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
James Mannino scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Round 3
Sterling practically races out of his corner, throwing looping punches and a high kick until he closes in and grips hold of his adversary. Sterling chucks Kattar down to the mat without much effort, and Kattar posts off his arms to push himself back up. Sterling grapples him from behind, where he pushes Kattar to the wall with a hook in from behind. Kattar fights off the back take to turn himself to the fence, and Sterling switches up for a single. Kattar hangs on, and Sterling lowers him down to the ground comfortably. The crowd is not amused by Sterling’s strategy, and they let him have it as time ticks off the clock. Herzog asks Sterling to do more than hold in this position, and Sterling answers by lifting Kattar’s legs up to scoot him away from the cage wall and put him in a more horizontal position. Sterling keeps smothering until he sets up an arm-triangle choke, and he considers stepping over to one side but opts to go to the other instead to maintain control. Sterling knees the side a few times, and Kattar explodes to his knees and stands up. Sterling uses all of his might, lifting “The Boston Finisher” in the air and slamming him in the mat in a maneuver reminiscent of a pro wrestling powerbomb. The slam hurts Kattar, and Sterling recognizes this and tries to pound his damaged man out. Kattar manages to gather his thoughts as Sterling lays into him, and he grips hold of the waist to keep Sterling from landing anything especially harmful. Sterling attempts to posture up, and Kattar follows him by sitting up, ignoring any offense landing on his ribs. Sterling turns a potentially guillotine choke to a brabo choke, and Kattar sits out of it. Sterling drops hammers right until the end, putting a stamp on a clear-cut dominant performance.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sterling (30-27 Sterling)
Christian Stein scores the round: 10-9 Sterling (30-27 Sterling)
James Mannino scores the round: 10-9 Sterling (30-27 Sterling)
The Official Result
Aljamain Sterling def. Calvin Kattar via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Angelo slightly leans Aljamain Sterling due to Kattar's 18-month layoff and knee surgery, which could cause ring rust. He notes Sterling's takedown accuracy is poor but his relentless wrestling may be enough. He acknowledges Kattar is the better striker and if he stuffs takedowns, he wins. He calls it razor thin at 51-49.
Cody sees this as a live underdog spot. He notes Sterling's wrestling may not translate to 145 lbs, as his grappling diminishes against bigger opponents. Sterling has been reluctant to shoot takedowns, as seen against Sean O'Malley, and was knocked out. Kattar has 91% takedown defense in the UFC, stuffing attempts from wrestlers like Dan Ige and Josh Emmett. Cody believes Kattar's volume and power advantage will be key, and if he stuffs takedowns, he can outpoint Sterling. He also mentions Sterling's mentality of wanting to grind out boring fights, which may not impress judges in a hot Vegas crowd.
Connor also picks Kattar with a cloud of question marks. He notes that Sterling is a creative takedown artist but moving up in weight against a big featherweight. Connor points out that wrestlers moving up rarely succeed, and Kattar's defensive wrestling has been solid. He also mentions that Kattar is a slow starter but has power and size advantages.
Daniel Vreeland leans toward Calvin Kattar as a dog, citing his boxing advantage and takedown defense. He acknowledges Sterling's grappling threat but believes Kattar's size and striking can keep the fight standing. Vreeland is concerned about Kattar's injury layoff and Sterling's experience, but sees value in the underdog.
Lucrative James does not make a pick for this fight. He says it's a really good fight and he is excited to see how Aljamain Sterling bounces back from losing his bantamweight title now fighting at featherweight. He does not give a prediction.
Kattar holds a striking advantage and will touch up Sterling from distance. He will shut down takedown attempts and batter Sterling on the feet, winning a decision. Sterling's featherweight debut will be tough.
Paul picks Kattar as a dog, citing the weight change for Sterling and Kattar's takedown defense. He notes that few have tried to wrestle Kattar, and those who did (Dan Ige, Josh Emmett) had little success. Paul thinks if Sterling can't get takedowns, it becomes a competitive standup fight where Kattar has more power. He also mentions Sterling's recent knockout loss and his apparent mental state, questioning his motivation. Paul believes Kattar can keep the fight standing and win a decision or even get a knockout.
The MMA Guru picks Aljamain Sterling to win, citing Kattar's long layoff and leg injury. He believes Sterling's grappling will be too much for Kattar, especially targeting the injured rear leg with single legs. He expects Sterling to either finish or ride out a decision.
Zane picks Kattar despite many question marks. He notes that Kattar is a big featherweight with power, and Sterling is moving up for the first time. Zane argues that wrestlers moving up rarely look their best, and Sterling's inefficient style may not translate well. He also points out that Kattar has faced few dedicated wrestlers, but Sterling's first fight at 145 could be a disadvantage.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean O'Malley | 0 | 17 of 35 | 48% | 24 of 46 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:34 |
| Aljamain Sterling | 1 | 25 of 35 | 71% | 26 of 36 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:18 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sean O'Malley | 0 | 13 of 26 | 50% | 20 of 37 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:21 |
| Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 8 of 14 | 57% | 8 of 14 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Sean O'Malley | 0 | 4 of 9 | 44% | 4 of 9 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:13 |
| Aljamain Sterling | 1 | 17 of 21 | 80% | 18 of 22 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:18 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean O'Malley | 17 of 35 | 48% | 3 of 12 | 3 of 10 | 11 of 13 | 16 of 33 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Aljamain Sterling | 25 of 35 | 71% | 18 of 25 | 6 of 9 | 1 of 1 | 10 of 16 | 1 of 1 | 14 of 18 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sean O'Malley | 13 of 26 | 50% | 0 of 5 | 2 of 8 | 11 of 13 | 13 of 26 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Aljamain Sterling | 8 of 14 | 57% | 3 of 6 | 4 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 7 of 13 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Sean O'Malley | 4 of 9 | 44% | 3 of 7 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 7 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Aljamain Sterling | 17 of 21 | 80% | 15 of 19 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 14 of 18 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Sterling (-258), O’Malley (+210)
Round 1
In the main attraction inside of the
Boston Garden
FleetCenter
TD Banknorth Garden
TD Garden, two men with no particular affinity to Beantown will collide for bantamweight gold. In the truest sense of the overused phrase, this is a pure grappler vs. striker affair, one that pits defending champ Sterling (23-3, 15-3 UFC) against the exceptionally accurate O’Malley (16-1, 1 NC; 8-1, 1 NC UFC). Should Sterling get his hand raised, he will set the record for the most consecutive defenses in the division’s history, while O’Malley can become the second champion to make his way to the promotion from Dana White’s Contender Series – Jamahal Hill was the first. There is nothing more that needs to be said from these two or about these two, and referee Marc Goddard brings the two together to make the title fight official. The staredown lasts from the moment Bruce Buffer starts speaking through to part of the introductions, and they are intense. They do touch gloves, and it’s on with the show. When they come together, Sterling is quick to swat O’Malley’s hands down. Sterling leaps forward with front kicks and side kicks, and he reaches out with long jabs while O’Malley stays out of reach. Sterling lands a solid leg kick as he races after O’Malley, and O’Malley responds with a front kick. Sterling keeps busy with kicks to any target, and O’Malley jabs to the body. O’Malley pushes the pace and draws a reaction out of his opponent, and the crowd rains down a profane chant against the champion. Sterling puts his foot on the gas, and he leans back from a long left hand that comes at his chin. The two take turns leading the dance, but O’Malley’s work rate is quite low through the first half of the round. O’Malley feints and fakes his way in, and he has to block a body kick that gets past his guard. Sterling chips away at the lead leg, and he absorbs a front kick on the ribs. Sterling peppers O’Malley with three low kicks before O’Malley gives him a stomping kick back to his knee. Sterling’s inside calf kicks force a stance switch early, and O’Malley lunges forward but does not fire off anything. Sterling reacts significantly when O’Malley is about to strike, and he picks at O’Malley’s leg while strafing to the side. O’Malley drops his hands to taunt Sterling into coming at him, and Sterling keeps ripping leg kicks and little else. Sterling blazes past his foe with a kick, and O’Malley settles down and fires off a spinning back kick that backs him off. Sterling shoots in for a single, and he jams O’Malley up against the fence while holding his foe’s leg in the air. Sterling lands several short punches, and the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Round 2
The second round begins with the two rushing towards one another, and O’Malley lashes out with a kick that he misses and falls over after throwing. Sterling comes at him and pursues a takedown, and O’Malley backs himself against the wall to stay up. O’Malley shuts it down and drops back to line up a right hand, and Sterling misses with a punch and gets cracked right on the chin. Sterling crashes down to the ground on his face, and he turns to his side in an effort to get his wits about him. O’Malley follows him down and clubs him with hammerfists, and Sterling is moving but still taking damage. O’Malley continues his bombardment of punches, and Goddard is closely watching over things. Sterling turns over and looks to reach out with his left arm for a potential takedown, and Goddard waves the fight off. Some may consider it an early stoppage, given how Sterling was still moving and defending himself. Nevertheless, the fight is over and O’Malley is now the UFC’s bantamweight champion, and he is the second fighter off the Contender Series to claim a UFC strap. The landscape of the 135-pound weight class has now changed drastically, and a wealth of options present themselves for O’Malley first defense and upcoming title reign. Marlon Vera, Merab Dvalishvili, Umar Nurmagomedov and a few others are right in contention, and it will be interesting to see how it turns out. In his post-fight interview, O’Malley mentions that he would be up for his first defense against Vera this December, and Vera immediately responded on social media with a post of dollar signs and bags of cash. If that is the fight the UFC makes for its Dec. 16 pay-per-view card, we will be here for it. We hope you are too.
The Official Result
Sean O’Malley def. Aljamain Sterling R2 0:51 via TKO (Punches)
Angelo picks Aljamain Sterling, expecting his wrestling to take over as Sean O'Malley slows down in the later rounds. He notes that O'Malley gassed in a three-round fight and this is five rounds. He thinks Sterling could win by submission but acknowledges O'Malley's toughness and striking threat. He believes Sterling's range management and takedowns will be the difference.
Big Brady picks Sean O'Malley to win by fourth-round knockout, but admits he's terrified of Sterling's early grappling. He believes O'Malley can stuff takedowns and make Sterling work, causing Sterling to slow down. Brady notes O'Malley's striking advantage and power, and thinks if O'Malley survives the first few rounds, he can finish Sterling late.
Cody believes Sterling's grappling and wrestling are a notch above O'Malley's, and that Sterling will take O'Malley down, control him, and win rounds. He notes that O'Malley's camp lacks confidence, and that the line is inflated due to O'Malley's popularity. He expects Sterling to win by decision or submission, and likes the value at -260.
Daniel Levi leans toward Aljamain Sterling, acknowledging that Sterling should be favored but questioning whether the -255 price is warranted. He notes that Sterling has a clear path to victory if O'Malley has no answer when his back is taken, but if O'Malley can stretch the fight out, all bets are off. Levi mentions that Sterling's cardio fades in championship rounds due to massive weight cuts, which could open a late path for O'Malley. He also highlights that O'Malley's confidence and training with Taki Mendez might help him survive early grappling exchanges. Ultimately, Levi picks Sterling but is not fully confident, as he is intrigued by O'Malley's potential to survive and capitalize late.
Lucrative James picks Sean O'Malley, citing his distance management, footwork, and underrated jiu-jitsu. He believes Sterling's frequent weight cuts and recent activity may affect his performance. He sees value on O'Malley's moneyline and thinks O'Malley could get a knockout or win rounds on damage.
Sterling has a clear grappling advantage and should be able to take O'Malley down and control him. O'Malley's takedown defense has been a weakness, and Sterling's pressure and back-taking ability will be key. Sterling will likely win a decision rather than chase a finish, conserving energy. The decision prop is the best play.
The MMA Guru picks Aljamain Sterling over Sean O'Malley. He believes Sterling's grappling will be the difference, as O'Malley will be worried about takedowns. He notes Sterling's tricky movement and ability to pressure O'Malley backwards. He predicts Sterling will take O'Malley down early, get his back, and win by TKO via ground and pound in round 1 or 2. He thinks Sterling will prove a point.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 135 of 210 | 64% | 186 of 261 | 4 of 15 | 26% | 0 | 0 | 4:00 |
| Henry Cejudo | 0 | 99 of 174 | 56% | 143 of 219 | 3 of 8 | 37% | 0 | 0 | 5:06 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 20 of 34 | 58% | 29 of 43 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 1:37 |
| Henry Cejudo | 0 | 7 of 18 | 38% | 15 of 26 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:47 | |
| 2 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 29 of 55 | 52% | 29 of 55 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Henry Cejudo | 0 | 31 of 53 | 58% | 31 of 53 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:02 | |
| 3 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 26 of 29 | 89% | 45 of 48 | 1 of 6 | 16% | 0 | 0 | 1:30 |
| Henry Cejudo | 0 | 15 of 29 | 51% | 38 of 53 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:43 | |
| 4 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 36 of 52 | 69% | 52 of 68 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 0:38 |
| Henry Cejudo | 0 | 19 of 33 | 57% | 24 of 38 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:46 | |
| 5 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 24 of 40 | 60% | 31 of 47 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:15 |
| Henry Cejudo | 0 | 27 of 41 | 65% | 35 of 49 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:48 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aljamain Sterling | 135 of 210 | 64% | 51 of 112 | 50 of 60 | 34 of 38 | 103 of 174 | 24 of 28 | 8 of 8 |
| Henry Cejudo | 99 of 174 | 56% | 35 of 99 | 30 of 37 | 34 of 38 | 82 of 152 | 16 of 21 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aljamain Sterling | 20 of 34 | 58% | 5 of 15 | 10 of 12 | 5 of 7 | 12 of 25 | 3 of 4 | 5 of 5 |
| Henry Cejudo | 7 of 18 | 38% | 3 of 13 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 4 | 7 of 16 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Aljamain Sterling | 29 of 55 | 52% | 10 of 33 | 11 of 14 | 8 of 8 | 28 of 53 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Henry Cejudo | 31 of 53 | 58% | 10 of 26 | 7 of 11 | 14 of 16 | 29 of 51 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Aljamain Sterling | 26 of 29 | 89% | 12 of 15 | 11 of 11 | 3 of 3 | 17 of 20 | 7 of 7 | 2 of 2 |
| Henry Cejudo | 15 of 29 | 51% | 7 of 19 | 5 of 6 | 3 of 4 | 10 of 23 | 4 of 5 | 1 of 1 | |
| 4 | Aljamain Sterling | 36 of 52 | 69% | 11 of 25 | 13 of 14 | 12 of 13 | 27 of 42 | 8 of 9 | 1 of 1 |
| Henry Cejudo | 19 of 33 | 57% | 7 of 20 | 5 of 6 | 7 of 7 | 16 of 30 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | |
| 5 | Aljamain Sterling | 24 of 40 | 60% | 13 of 24 | 5 of 9 | 6 of 7 | 19 of 34 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Henry Cejudo | 27 of 41 | 65% | 8 of 21 | 12 of 13 | 7 of 7 | 20 of 32 | 7 of 9 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Cejudo (-115), Sterling (-105)
Round 1
This one is for all the marbles, and a fair amount of divisional glory as well. Sterling (22-3, 14-3 UFC) will be trying to set the UFC bantamweight record by notching his third successful title defense, while Cejudo (16-2, 10-2 UFC) would like nothing more than to get his old belt back. The winner of this pairing will elevate themselves in the all-time rankings at bantamweight, and they will have 25 minutes to figure it out. Like the legion of fans in the Prudential Center, referee Herb Dean is excited for how this one will play out. The fighters share a stern glove touch, and let the games begin. Sterling comes out aggressively, and he leads the dance with an early head kick. They clash shins at the same time, and Sterling recovers and kicks the leg. Cejudo ignores a few low kicks and backs away when Sterling leaps at him with a flying knee. Cejudo dodges a body kick, and he counters with a right hand. Sterling stalks him down and reaches out with a swatting right up high and left to the body. Cejudo tries to catch leg, and he elects to snatch up a body lock and easily take the champ to the mat. Sterling sits up against the wall, and Cejudo holds on in half guard until Sterling sets up butterfly hooks. Cejudo drops down to grab hold of a guillotine choke with Sterling on his knees, and Sterling breaks the grip but is holding Sterling’s head down. Sterling explodes to his feet, and he eats a leg kick and a right hand on the way. Sterling loads up with a body kick, and Cejudo catches it and whiffs with a huge right hand. Sterling snipes him with his superior range, and Cejudo pushes forward into a clinch. Sterling considers a level change, and Cejudo staves it off and again presses on the back of Sterling’s neck to keep him low. They stand up, and Sterling hunts for a single-leg with Cejudo against the cage. The crowd opens up with chants for “Henry” despite Sterling the fighter from the area, and Sterling manages to take that energy and muscle the ex-champ down to his knees. Sterling cannot keep him down or take his back, and he slams a few knees to the side before Cejudo stands. Sterling hits a mat return, and he snatches up back control and gets one hook in. Cejudo looks to break up the leg wrap, and Sterling knees his man in the thigh a few times and swings with a huge punch right before the bell sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Round 2
Cejudo starts off the second frame with a calf kick, and Sterling greets him with sharp jab and a body kick. Sterling jumps with a switch kick that lands on the shoulder, and Cejudo is still trying to find his distance. Cejudo connects with a calf kick, and Sterling shoots in on him. Sterling shoulder rolls a few punches, and he sticks Cejudo with a straight left. They trade low kicks, and Sterling catches a kick only to get caught with an uppercut to let it go. Cejudo presses the action and shocks Sterling with a head kick, and the champion reels and reaches out with a right hook. Sterling pushes out a front kick, turns to dodge a head kick, and he intercepts Cejudo with a knee to the guts. Sterling surprises his foe with a left hook when faking with a front kick, and he throws kicks to all targets to fluster the ex-flyweight. Sterling shoots in for a takedown, and Cejudo stops it in its tracks with ease. Sterling gets in a left hand, and when Cejudo counters, Sterling is there to catch him with a strike and be out of harm’s way in time. Cejudo puts some mustard into an overhand right, and Sterling jukes and keeps moving. “Funk Master” retains his awkward movement and strange angles, and this allows him to take most of the steam out of the heavy strikes Cejudo throws. Cejudo backs his man up with a straight right to the pectorals, and Sterling spins him around with a calf kick. Cejudo walks into a left hand, and he tries to hop forward with a hook only to get backed off. Sterling quickly spins with an elbow, and Cejudo looks for answers and loads up on a power right. When Sterling ducks away, Cejudo nearly dislodges his dome with a head kick. Sterling slides away and gets a straight left out, and he keeps a high guard to blow what comes back immediately. Sterling digs a punch to the body, and Cejudo replies with a few punches up top. Sterling kicks the side, and Cejudo looks for a takedown only to get shut down. Cejudo wings a monster right hand, and Sterling brushes past it and looks to trip Cejudo down. The wild scramble allows Cejudo to land on top, but the round ends before anything comes from it.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Round 3
Cejudo practically comes out sprinting from his corner, and the two engage in a series of leg kicks. Cejudo breaks this up with one to the ribcage, and Sterling ducks down with a jab. Cejudo times a perfect flying knee that skims off the top of the head, and Sterling drops down to shoot in for a takedown. Cejudo sprawls perfectly and is pushed down to the floor, with no submission or anything from Cejudo. “The Messenger” lets him back up, and Sterling thanks him with a big right hand. Sterling shoots for another takedown, and this time, Cejudo makes him pay for this try with a stern knee. Sterling pursues another from a different angle, and Cejudo defends it and turns his foe around to push him to the fence. Sterling gets off a short knee while they jockey for position, and Sterling trips out a leg and drops Cejudo to the floor. Sterling sneaks his right leg in for a potential hook, and Cejudo hangs onto Sterling’s left arm but cannot keep the gold medalist grounded. Sterling lets him up so that he can smash Cejudo in the face with a clean knee, and he aims one more to the body. Sterling looks for another takedown entry, and Cejudo tosses him out of the way. Sterling lands a left, and Cejudo replies with a right and sprawls to stop a naked takedown. Cejudo nearly circles around to the side, and Sterling answers by switching up for a single. Cejudo keeps his chest pressed on the back of Sterling’s head to stop the takedown from getting anywhere, and he hammers Sterling with a punch before waving Sterling back up. Sterling obliges and they trade body kicks. Sterling fires off a one-two into a level change, and Cejudo stops it but absorbs a pair of flush knees to the torso. Cejudo hits a trip, plopping Sterling on his back with seconds to spare, and he rides out the remainder of the round in the guard.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Cejudo
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Cejudo
Round 4
The championship rounds are upon them, and Sterling scores a few low kicks to start them off. Sterling swings a left hand, and Cejudo answers with a leg kick. The champ measures a kick to the side, and he loads up with another. Cejudo tries to fire back a low kick, and Sterling strikes the same spot and then has one calf kick checked. Cejudo blocks one and lunges forward, with a right hand connecting before Sterling is able to escape. Sterling sits down on a leg kick, and he follows with a right hand. Cejudo steps in with a knee and two punches, and these two are striking tit-for-tat one after the other. Sterling stings the calf with a shin, prompting Cejudo to charge at him with his fists out to clinch up. Cejudo cannot keep him tied up, and he tosses him away and catches a kick to release a left hand over the top. Sterling sticks out a jab and fails for a takedown, and he nails the calf with another kick. Sterling snaps the head back courtesy of a sharp jab, and Cejudo walks through a kick on his calf to consider a takedown. Sterling breaks free and aims a punch high and a kick low. Cejudo fakes a takedown and walks Sterling down to smack him with a shovel uppercut, and Sterling knees him in the liver. Cejudo grabs the raised leg but cannot elevate him, and Sterling turns the corner and knees his foe in the body. Cejudo whips Sterling around and uses a head lock to drag Sterling to the mat. Sterling pushes through to attack a double, and Cejudo does a whole split but cannot stop Sterling from taking him down. Sterling laces up the leg and lands a few right hands, and Cejudo bursts back up and gets slugged in the chops before the horn blares.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Round 5
Sterling points at the ground and says “Let’s go” to start off the last round, and the bantamweights meet in the middle of the cage for five more minutes of combat. Cejudo charges, ignoring a leg kick and launching one up high off the shoulder. Sterling slaps another calf kick to the swollen leg of his opponent, and Cejudo blocks one to his liver to follow. Sterling circles on the outside to avoid the looping strikes of his opponent, and Cejudo steps in with a solid body kick. Sterling gives two right back, and he whiffs on a big right hand. Cejudo charges recklessly, face-first into a right hand, but he pays it no mind as he strikes the side with his shin. Cejudo is pressuring aggressively, and Sterling backs him away with a few punches and a high kick. Cejudo scores a right hand as he comes in, and the fans rain down cheers for “Henry” again. Sterling spins with a back kick as Cejudo is kicking low, breaking up this attack. Cejudo stuns the champ with a left hand, and Sterling blinks it out and fights off a single. Cejudo lets it go and cracks Sterling with a right hand and follows it with a leg kick. Sterling reaches out with a right that misses the mark, and he boots the liver as Cejudo takes a look at the clock. Sterling slips a punch and sticks a straight left out, and Cejudo absorbs a calf kick and stuffs a takedown. Cejudo knees the body a few times and looks to follow it with an uppercut, and Sterling rolls with a punch and gets tied up. Sterling backs away from the advancing Cejudo, who grabs hold of a single and lifts Sterling’s leg in the air. Sterling topples down to his seat, but he powers right back up to his feet with Cejudo holding on from behind. Sterling tries to break the grip, and he spins around to get tied up. Cejudo lets go with clinch punches and knees, and the fight has reached its conclusion. It might go either way, possibly depending on the scoring of the second round. In victory, Sterling becomes the first bantamweight champion in UFC history to record three consecutive title defenses. One of the most underappreciated champs in the company is received by a series of boos, but Sterling lets it slide off like water off a duck’s back.
The defending champ calls out Sean O’Malley for his next challenge, and O’Malley enters the cage wearing a jacket reminiscent of “Thriller” by Michael Jackson. O’Malley steps right up to Sterling’s face and constantly repeats the line “you better do better than that.” UFC head Dana White gets between them, and Sterling calls for O’Malley to be removed from his cage. O’Malley approaches Sterling’s teammate, Merab Dvalishvili, who grabs his jacket, puts it on himself and runs away. Sterling is ready to go help out his teammate should a skirmish break out, with O’Malley hurling expletives and middle fingers until his red coat is returned. The security prevents anything bad from arising, and Sterling takes the mic again and tells O’Malley that they will fight in September. After this cools down, Cejudo is given the microphone, and he removes his gloves. Cejudo expresses his disappointment for the close fight, but holds no ill will towards the man that defeated him. Quoting “Talladega Nights,” Cejudo states that “If I’m not first, I’m last” and says this might be the last time he competes. If he fights again, we will be here for it. We hope you are too.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cejudo (49-46 Sterling)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Cejudo (48-47 Sterling)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Cejudo (48-47 Sterling)
The Official Result
Aljamain Sterling def. Henry Cejudo via Split Decision (47-48, 48-47, 48-47)
Angelo picks Aljamain Sterling despite acknowledging asterisks on his title wins (illegal knee, split decision, TJ Dillashaw with one arm). He believes Sterling's size and activity will be decisive, as Sterling is a weight bully and has been fighting consistently while Cejudo returns after three years. Angelo is rooting for Cejudo but thinks the layoff and cardio questions are too much to overcome. He notes Cejudo's Olympic wrestling credentials but doubts he can take down the much larger Sterling.
Big Brady picks Sterling due to activity, youth, volume, and size advantages. He notes Cejudo's three-year layoff is a major concern, especially at lower weight classes. He acknowledges that if prime Cejudo shows up, he should win, but he's not confident in that. He mentions Sterling's reach and height advantages and that Sterling is in his prime training with Merab Dvalishvili. He says this is his least confident pick on the card and he's likely not betting it.
Cody acknowledges the massive question marks around Henry Cejudo's three-year layoff and whether he can replicate his past success. He gives Sterling advantages in speed, striking, grappling, and recent experience, but notes that Cejudo's constant pressure could exploit Sterling's tendency to fade in later rounds. He suggests playing Sterling live after the first round for a better price rather than betting pre-fight, and only as a small play if nothing else on the card jumps out.
Connor leans toward Cejudo, citing raw speed as a major factor and noting that Cejudo is the fastest fighter Sterling has faced since Marlon Moraes. He believes Cejudo's pressure and willingness to take risks will be effective, and that Cejudo will land the bigger shots. Connor acknowledges the age and ring rust concerns but is willing to take that flyer.
The host believes Henry Cejudo's speed, explosiveness, and defensive grappling will be too much for Aljamain Sterling. He notes that Cejudo is difficult to take down and control, and his calf kicks and power punching could be key. He expects Cejudo to win by knockout in the third or fourth round, assuming he hasn't regressed too much from the layoff.
Paul agrees with Cody's reasoning, noting that while Cejudo could return like Jon Jones or GSP, the three-year layoff is a major unknown. He highlights Sterling's seven-inch reach advantage and massive speed advantage from training with Rob Font. He says it's 'algermane or pass' for him but doesn't feel he has an edge betting-wise, so he likely won't place a bet.
The Guru leans toward Sterling, citing Cejudo's three-year layoff and age (36) as major factors. He believes Sterling's reach and height advantages will allow him to pick at Cejudo from range with front kicks and jabs. He also notes that Cejudo's wrestling may be neutralized by Sterling's body triangle, which can burn rounds. However, he admits it's a 50-50 fight and hopes Cejudo wins for entertainment, showing low confidence.
Zane picks Sterling, noting that he always starts strong with a clear game plan and is underrated for his toughness and resilience. He highlights Sterling's high output, body work, and weapons like knees and uppercuts to counter shorter fighters. Zane acknowledges the risk of Sterling getting caught or fading late, but believes Sterling's grappling danger and ability to take Cejudo's back are key advantages.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 72 of 93 | 77% | 148 of 181 | 5 of 8 | 62% | 2 | 0 | 7:06 |
| T.J. Dillashaw | 0 | 8 of 26 | 30% | 13 of 31 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 30 of 45 | 66% | 80 of 103 | 3 of 4 | 75% | 1 | 0 | 4:20 |
| T.J. Dillashaw | 0 | 3 of 11 | 27% | 8 of 16 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 42 of 48 | 87% | 68 of 78 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 2:46 |
| T.J. Dillashaw | 0 | 5 of 15 | 33% | 5 of 15 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aljamain Sterling | 72 of 93 | 77% | 56 of 75 | 13 of 15 | 3 of 3 | 17 of 30 | 2 of 4 | 53 of 59 |
| T.J. Dillashaw | 8 of 26 | 30% | 3 of 20 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 4 | 8 of 26 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aljamain Sterling | 30 of 45 | 66% | 24 of 38 | 5 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 8 of 15 | 1 of 3 | 21 of 27 |
| T.J. Dillashaw | 3 of 11 | 27% | 0 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Aljamain Sterling | 42 of 48 | 87% | 32 of 37 | 8 of 9 | 2 of 2 | 9 of 15 | 1 of 1 | 32 of 32 |
| T.J. Dillashaw | 5 of 15 | 33% | 3 of 12 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 2 | 5 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Sterling (-175), Dillashaw (+150)
Round 1
The co-main event kicks off under the watchful eye of referee Marc Goddard. They exchange kicks as Sterling changes stances. Tons of movement early on, and Sterling catches a kick which he uses to spin Dillashaw to the canvas. Sterling takes Dillashaw’s back for a moment, but they spin through and Sterling lands in half guard. Dillashaw appears to be in pain from something. Sterling moves to mount, then locks up a body triangle from the top. Dillashaw’s left arm or shoulder may be the problem. Sterling lands a couple of huge right hands from the top, then takes Dillashaw’s back. Sterling working for a choke, then gives it up to move back to mount. Dillashaw pops back up and scrambles, but Sterling is all over him, regaining back control. Under two minutes left and Sterling has Dillashaw in a body triangle from back mount. Sterling pelts the ex-champ with punches that curl around the front of Dillashaw’s face. Dillashaw escapes to his feet and his left arm is clearly compromised. Sterling drops for a takedown with 30 seconds left, driving Dillashaw to the fence. He peels Dillashaw away from the fence and dumps him on the canvas. Dillashaw pops back up right before the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-8 Sterling
John Brannigan scores the round: 10-8 Sterling
Tudor Leonte scores the round: 10-8 Sterling
Round 2
Dillashaw’s shoulder is popped back in between rounds, and they’re good to go for another round at least. Sterling throws low kicks to open the round as Dillashaw returns fire, mostly with his right hand. Sterling drops levels for an easy double-leg takedown in the middle of the Octagon. Sterling sets up in Dillashaw’s half-guard. Sterling tries to move to side control, dropping elbows as he does. Dillashaw drives back to his feet, but is ensnared in a D’Arce choke as he does. Dillashaw escapes the hold, and his arm is once again all the way out of the socket, hanging limply at his side. The champ seems unsure of what to do, but takes Dillashaw down again. Sterling moves to mount. Dillashaw turns his back and goes belly-down. Sterling smashes Dillashaw with a couple of brutal elbows, then several punches, and Dillashaw is doing next to nothing to defend himself. Ref Goddard steps in and mercifully calls a stop to the mauling.
The Official Result
Aljamain Sterling def. T.J. Dillashaw R2 3:44 via TKO (Punches)
Angelo picks T.J. Dillashaw, surprised he is an underdog. He questions how Sterling can take Dillashaw down, noting only two people have ever done it. He praises Dillashaw's pace, pressure, and toughness, referencing the Sandhagen fight. He has a moneyline bet on Dillashaw at +150.
Big Brady picks Dillashaw to win by decision, despite concerns about his age (36) and decline. He believes stylistically it's a great matchup for Dillashaw: his takedown defense (86%) and get-up game are elite, and Sterling has only 30% takedown accuracy. He expects Dillashaw's pressure and cardio to overwhelm Sterling in the later rounds, winning the third, fourth, and fifth.
Cody thinks Sterling is the superior fighter overall but believes Dillashaw is live as an underdog. He notes Sterling's cardio fades in later rounds, while Dillashaw historically excels in rounds 4 and 5. Cody points out that Dillashaw has excellent takedown defense and wrestling, and that Sterling's takedowns may not hold him down. He sees Dillashaw winning the striking exchanges and possibly capitalizing on Sterling's fatigue.
Connor picks Dillashaw because he believes Dillashaw's wrestling and grappling defense will neutralize Sterling's best weapons. He notes that Dillashaw has never been held down or submitted, and that Sterling tends to gas when he can't impose his grappling. He also points out that Dillashaw's pressure and ability to take easy targets will wear on Sterling, similar to how Munoz gave him trouble.
Daniel Levi leans toward Aljamain Sterling to defend his belt, but is not confident. He respects Sterling's back control and jiu-jitsu, noting that even Petr Yan couldn't escape his backpack. However, he questions Sterling's durability and cardio, thinking he can wilt in later rounds. Levi also notes that T.J. Dillashaw is 37, coming off an ACL tear and a long layoff, and is no longer in his prime. He thinks Sterling's youth and confidence in his strengths give him the edge, but he has no bet on this fight because he doesn't have a strong read.
Dillashaw has solid wrestling and takedown defense to keep the fight standing. He is the better striker and can counter Sterling's entries. Sterling's best path is grappling, but Dillashaw's movement and pivots make him hard to catch. Dillashaw by decision at +300 or moneyline at +150 are both appealing.
Paul struggles to get to Sterling at -175, acknowledging Sterling's talent but questioning whether his grappling will work on Dillashaw. He notes Dillashaw's takedown defense historically, and that Sterling may not be able to hold him down. Paul mentions Dillashaw's strong later rounds and volume striking. He is picking Dillashaw for the show but is unsure about betting, possibly looking at round props.
The MMA Guru picks Aljamain Sterling over T.J. Dillashaw by submission. He argues Sterling is underrated, citing his wins over Yan, Sandhagen, and Munoz. He believes Dillashaw gives up his back and that Sterling will hurt him on the feet before securing a rear-naked choke in the second round.
Zane also picks Dillashaw, citing that Dillashaw is a uniquely bad matchup for Sterling due to his ability to stuff takedowns and avoid submission. He notes that Sterling's path to victory is narrow and relies on early chaos, but Dillashaw's experience and durability make him the safer bet. He also mentions that Dillashaw's wrestling-heavy approach against Sandhagen shows he can adapt.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 62 of 110 | 56% | 91 of 143 | 2 of 22 | 9% | 0 | 0 | 8:31 |
| Petr Yan | 0 | 63 of 103 | 61% | 139 of 186 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 5:52 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 19 of 40 | 47% | 20 of 41 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Petr Yan | 0 | 13 of 26 | 50% | 13 of 26 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 17 of 29 | 58% | 42 of 55 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 3:50 |
| Petr Yan | 0 | 4 of 5 | 80% | 21 of 24 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 6 of 13 | 46% | 8 of 18 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 3:43 |
| Petr Yan | 0 | 8 of 15 | 53% | 20 of 27 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:07 | |
| 4 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 8 of 10 | 80% | 8 of 10 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Petr Yan | 0 | 18 of 25 | 72% | 48 of 57 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 3:51 | |
| 5 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 12 of 18 | 66% | 13 of 19 | 0 of 10 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:58 |
| Petr Yan | 0 | 20 of 32 | 62% | 37 of 52 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:54 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aljamain Sterling | 62 of 110 | 56% | 29 of 66 | 26 of 35 | 7 of 9 | 42 of 84 | 5 of 7 | 15 of 19 |
| Petr Yan | 63 of 103 | 61% | 32 of 71 | 17 of 18 | 14 of 14 | 46 of 80 | 8 of 11 | 9 of 12 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aljamain Sterling | 19 of 40 | 47% | 5 of 22 | 11 of 14 | 3 of 4 | 19 of 40 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Petr Yan | 13 of 26 | 50% | 7 of 20 | 4 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 12 of 25 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Aljamain Sterling | 17 of 29 | 58% | 14 of 20 | 1 of 6 | 2 of 3 | 3 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 14 of 18 |
| Petr Yan | 4 of 5 | 80% | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Aljamain Sterling | 6 of 13 | 46% | 2 of 8 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 11 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 |
| Petr Yan | 8 of 15 | 53% | 2 of 9 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 4 | 7 of 13 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 4 | Aljamain Sterling | 8 of 10 | 80% | 2 of 4 | 6 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 8 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Petr Yan | 18 of 25 | 72% | 10 of 17 | 4 of 4 | 4 of 4 | 9 of 13 | 4 of 5 | 5 of 7 | |
| 5 | Aljamain Sterling | 12 of 18 | 66% | 6 of 12 | 4 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 10 of 14 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Petr Yan | 20 of 32 | 62% | 12 of 23 | 6 of 7 | 2 of 2 | 15 of 25 | 1 of 2 | 4 of 5 |
Angelo picks Petr Yan by decision. He notes that Yan was winning the first fight and has better takedown defense (90%). He expects more of the same without the illegal knee, though he acknowledges Sterling's striking stats were close. He thinks Yan is safe for parlays.
Big Brady picks Petr Yan to win by fourth-round knockout. He references the first fight where Yan was winning before the illegal knee, and expects a similar pattern: Yan starts slow, builds into the fight, and takes over in later rounds. Yan's wrestling, cardio, and finishing ability are superior. Sterling may have a better game plan but Yan is the better five-round fighter.
Cody picks Yan but is worried about a potential upset. He thinks Sterling needs to fight an ultra-conservative game plan of jabbing and kicking, using the big octagon to avoid Yan's power. Cody notes Sterling's neck surgery and layoff, while Yan is active and experienced. He considers a draw possible if Sterling wins three rounds but gets 10-8'd in one. Ultimately, he sticks with Yan but with reservations.
Levi considers Yan the undisputed champion and a master of adjustments. He criticizes Sterling's durability and cardio, noting that Yan's pressure and reads will lead to a faster start this time. He expects Yan to crowd Sterling, negate his unorthodox kicks, and eventually finish by TKO. He has parlayed Yan with Ian Garry.
I think Yan gets stronger as the fight goes on and will find Sterling's chin. Sterling doesn't have the cardio to implement a 15-20 minute game plan. Yan will finish him late. I like Yan round 4/5/decision at -180 on FanDuel. The line is skewed due to public perception of Sterling.
Paul picks Yan, citing Yan's ability to calculate opponents and improve as the fight goes on, plus having four rounds of data from the first fight. He notes Sterling's wrestling was only 1 of 12 on takedowns and that he couldn't keep the pace for five rounds. Paul thinks Yan starts better this time and wins, though he doesn't love the -490 price.
The MMA Guru picks Petr Yan by decision, expecting a close fight. He thinks Sterling will win the first two rounds but Yan will edge the later rounds, winning 48-47. He criticizes Sterling's reaction to the illegal knee and notes Yan's toughness and strength. He believes Sterling will be more reserved, giving Yan time to figure him out.
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