UFC analyst Alan Jouban argues that Aljamain Sterling, who holds records for most total wins and title defenses in the UFC bantamweight division, could be considered the greatest bantamweight of all time, regardless of the result of his upcoming fight.
Aljamain Sterling, a renowned UFC fighter, holds records that could arguably classify him as the most outstanding bantamweight fighter in history. This comes even before he defends his title at UFC 292. Standing at the top, Sterling has made history with 14 wins in the bantamweight division in UFC. He has repeatedly made a name for himself and raised the most eyebrows for holding the record for the most consecutive title defenses at bantamweight, a total of three.
Sterling’s legacy is set to continue to expand as he gears up for his fourth title defense against Sean O’Malley. However, UFC analyst Alan Jouban suggests that regardless of the outcome of the fight, Sterling may have done enough to be considered the greatest bantamweight competitor. “This isn’t a hard one for me,” Jouban shared in an episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer, emphasizing that even if Sterling lost, his extensive credentials make him hard to overlook.
Jouban went on to point out that biases have always been against Sterling since he became a champion, possibly due to the way he won the title, as he captured it following Petr Yan‘s disqualification for an illegal knee blow. Sterling also carries a unique fighting style, known for taking adversaries to the mat and monopolizing grappling attacks. Despite these challenges, Jouban is confident that Sterling’s impressive record against more former champions and big names could lead to him standing out in the division, which has never been hotter in UFC.
With the upcoming match against O’Malley, Jouban believes that will only solidify Sterling’s prowess. O’Malley is a formidable opponent and if Sterling beats him with style, there will be no doubts about Sterling’s lasting legacy. Nonetheless, Jouban is cautious, acknowledging Sterling’s underdog status in many of his previous encounters. He shares, “Is he going to slip this one up? Is he going to get caught?” Sterling will surely seize this opportunity to prove himself once more and further his claim as the greatest of all time in the division.