Sterling was born in 1989 in Uniondale, New York to Jamaican parents, Cleveland and Sophia Sterling.[2][12] He grew up with seven full siblings and at least 12 half-siblings.[2] To stay away from the prevalent gang life in which some of his brothers joined, Sterling started wrestling at Uniondale High School in 2004.[13][2]
Wrestling career
Unable to catch up with the grades to reach Division I, Sterling opted to enroll at Morrisville State College where he continued wrestling.[2] During the time in Morrisville, Sterling developed an interest in MMA when he met Jon Jones and trained on the wrestling team.[14] After his freshman year, Sterling transferred to Cortland and eventually became a two-time NCAA Division III All-American with a record of 87–27.[2][15] Sterling graduated from Cortland with a bachelor's degree in physical education.[16]
Sterling's nickname “The Funk Master” comes from his unorthodox wrestling style.[16]
Mixed martial arts career
While studying in Cortland, Sterling was invited by Jones to try out mixed martial arts at his gym of that time, The BombSquad in Ithaca, New York.[2] A few fights into his professional career, Sterling left The BombSquad and started training at Serra-Longo Fight Team.[2]
Early career
Sterling started his amateur career in 2009 with a submission win. Prior to turning pro Sterling compiled a 6–1 amateur record with the lone loss coming by way of split decision, he would eventually avenge this loss. Sterling captured the Raging Wolf amateur Bantamweight Championship and Extreme FC amateur Featherweight Championship along the way.[20]
Sterling started his professional career 2–0, before earning a shot at the ROC Bantamweight Championship. He would go on to defeat Claudio Ledesma by split decision to capture the title.[21] Although this would turn out to be his last bout under the Ring of Combat organization, as he would later sign with Cage Fury Fighting Championships.
Sterling made his CFFC debut in a Featherweight bout against Evan Chmieleski. He won the fight by TKO with just two seconds left in the first round. This victory earned him a shot at the vacant CFFC Bantamweight Championship. Sterling defeated Sean Santella via unanimous decision to capture his second professional title. He would go on to defend the CFFC Bantamweight Championship on three occasions. Sterling finished all three of his title defenses by rear naked choke, which earned him the opportunity to compete in the UFC.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
2014
Sterling was scheduled to make his UFC debut at UFC 170 against Lucas Martins, replacing an injured Bryan Caraway.[22] However Martins was eventually injured as well and replaced by fellow UFC newcomer Cody Gibson.[23] Sterling won the fight via unanimous decision.[24]
Sterling made his second UFC appearance on July 16, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 45 against Hugo Viana.[25] After controlling the majority of the fight Sterling landed a barrage of punches from the mount position causing the referee to wave off the fight late in the third round.
Following a quick recovery, Sterling was promptly rebooked and was expected to face Frankie Saenz on November 8, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 55.[28] However, Saenz was forced to withdraw from the bout and in turn promotional newcomer Michael Imperato was briefly linked as a replacement.[29] However, his signing was quickly rescinded[30] and as a result, Sterling was pulled from the event altogether.[31]
2015
Sterling was expected to face Manny Gamburyan on April 18, 2015, at UFC on Fox 15.[32] However, Gamburyan pulled out of the bout citing injury and was replaced by Takeya Mizugaki.[33] Sterling won the fight by submission in the third round.
Sterling next faced Bryan Caraway on May 29, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 88.[36] Despite dominating the first round, Sterling began to tire and would go on to lose the following two rounds and lose via split decision.[37]
Sterling was expected to face Raphael Assunção on December 9, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 102.[38] However, Sterling pulled out of the fight on November 23 citing injury.[39] Assunção was subsequently removed from the card.[40]
2017
The bout with Assunção was rescheduled and took place on January 28, 2017, at UFC on Fox 23.[41] Sterling lost the fight via split decision.[42]
Sterling faced Renan Barão on July 29, 2017, at UFC 214.[45] The fight was initially contracted to be contested at bantamweight, however on June 28, the CSAC announced that they would not license Barão to compete at that weight due to his struggle to make the required weight at UFC 177. The bout with Sterling proceeded as scheduled at a catchweight of 140 lbs.[46] Sterling won the bout by unanimous decision.[47]
Sterling was expected to face Rani Yahya on December 9, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 123.[48] However, Yahya pulled out from the event on November 7, 2017, due to injury,[49] and was replaced by Marlon Moraes.[50] He lost the fight via KO in the first round.[51]
Sterling faced Cory Sandhagen on June 6, 2020, at UFC 250 in a bout that UFC president Dana White confirmed to be a bantamweight title eliminator.[60][61] He won the bout via submission in the first round.[62] This win earned him his first Performance of the Night.[63]
UFC Bantamweight Champion
Sterling was expected to face Petr Yan for the UFC Bantamweight Championship on December 12, 2020, at UFC 256.[64] However, on November 22, it was announced the bout was scrapped from the UFC 256 card due to undisclosed reasons[65] and the bout took place on March 6, 2021, at UFC 259.[66] Sterling won the fight by disqualification due to an intentional illegal knee in the fourth round, becoming the new UFC Bantamweight Champion. He became the first fighter in UFC history to win a championship by disqualification.[67]
A rematch with Yan was expected to take place on October 30, 2021, at UFC 267.[68] However, on September 25, Sterling withdrew from the contest due to lingering neck issues from surgery.[69] The pair was initially rescheduled to meet at UFC 272 on March 5, 2022,[70] but the bout was pushed back to UFC 273 on April 9.[71] Sterling won the close bout and defended the title via split decision.[72] 11 of 18 MMA media outlets scored the bout for Sterling, while 5 scored it as a draw.[73]
Sterling successfully defended his title against T.J. Dillashaw on October 22, 2022, at UFC 280.[74] Following a shoulder dislocation suffered by Dillashaw in the first, Sterling defended the title via TKO in the second round, marking his first victory by strikes in nearly eight years.[75][76][77]
Sterling faced Henry Cejudo on May 6, 2023, at UFC 288.[78] He won the fight by split decision and retained his title.[79] 21 of 23 MMA media outlets scored the bout for Sterling, while 2 scored it for Cejudo.[80]
Sterling faced Sean O'Malley on August 19, 2023, at UFC 292.[81] He lost the fight by second-round technical knockout and lost his title.[82]
Move to Featherweight
Sterling moved up to the featherweight division and faced Calvin Kattar on April 13, 2024, at UFC 300.[83] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[84] On an episode of The MMA Hour following the win, Sterling confessed he would have considered retiring if he lost to Kattar.[85]
Sterling was scheduled to face Movsar Evloev on October 5, 2024 at UFC 307.[86] However, Sterling withdrew from the fight due to an injury sustained in sparring.[87] The pairing was eventually rescheduled to UFC 310 on December 7, 2024.[88] Sterling lost the fight by unanimous decision.[89]
Professional grappling career
Sterling has also competed in submission grappling, defeating Damien Nitkin at High Rollerz 18 on August 13, 2022.[90]
Sterling was originally booked to compete in a superfight against Nathaniel Wood at Polaris 25 on September 30, 2023.[91] Wood withdrew from the match on a few week's notice and was replaced by Mike Grundy.[92] Sterling defeated Grundy by decision.[93]
Sterling faced Kevin Dantzler in the main event of Fury Pro Grappling 8 on December 30, 2023.[94] The bout was largely uneventful, with Dantzler immediately sitting down and spending the entirety in bottom position. The highlights of the match came when Dantzler attempted an armbar which Sterling defended by picking him up and spinning him around, along with dragging Dantzler around the mat by his ankle. Dantzler won the bout by decision. Sterling criticized the result, saying, "I don’t even know how they score that. Another man can’t drag his ass cheeks on the mat and think that’s a win, doing absolutely nothing."[95][96][97]
Sterling competed against Chase Hooper in the main event of ADXC 2 on January 19, 2024.[98] He won the match by split decision.[99]
Sterling faced Jay Jay Wilson on July 25, 2024 at Karate Combat's Pit Submission Series 7.[100] He won the bout by points in the overtime round.[101]
