Overview
- Sterling, who beat Youssef Zalal by unanimous decision on Saturday, controlled five rounds with takedowns and back control in the UFC Vegas 116 main event.
- Sterling disclosed on Monday that he signed a new multi-fight UFC contract before the bout, clearing contract questions as he plans the next phase of his career.
- After the win, he called for a shot at featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and argued he should jump the queue based on his resume and recent form.
- Across coverage, Movsar Evloev is still viewed as the likely next challenger because he is unbeaten and owns a recent head-to-head win over Sterling at 145 pounds.
- The UFC updated its official rankings after the event to move Sterling up and Zalal down, and those media-voted lists guide discussion even though the promotion makes final matchmaking calls.