Aljamain Sterling would’ve considered retirement with loss at UFC Vegas 116

Aljamain Sterling defeated Youssef Zalal by unanimous decision at UFC Vegas 116, underscoring his standing at featherweight. The former champion mixed aggressive striking and grappling to control the bout against Zalal, who entered on an eight‑fight win streak. After UFC Vegas 116, Sterling said he has considered retirement if he cannot compete with younger opponents and does not plan a long tenure in MMA due to the physical toll. He is 3-1 at featherweight, respects Movsar Evloev as the most deserving contender, and would accept a title shot. He also mentioned Alexander Volkanovski as a veteran matchup. Sterling previously lost a close unanimous decision to Evloev at UFC 310 in December 2024.