Aljamain Sterling seeks validation.
The incumbent Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight titleholder will rematch interim champion Petr Yan to unify the 135-pound crown in the UFC 273 co-main event on Saturday at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. Sterling has rattled off six consecutive victories. However, the 32-year-old Ray Longo and Matt Serra protege has not fought since he laid claim to the bantamweight throne with a disqualification win over Yan—an illegal knee in the fourth round was the culprit—at UFC 259 on March 6, 2021.
As Sterling prepares for the sequel and the continuation of his story with Yan at 135 pounds, a look at some of the other rivalries that have helped shape his career:
Raphael Assuncao
The World Extreme Cagefighting veteran leaned on experience and guile to escape with a contentious split decision over Sterling in a three-round UFC on Fox 23 bantamweight prelim on Jan.