Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling believes he should be next in line for a crack at Alexander Volkanovski's featherweight title.
Sterling earned a unanimous decision win over Youssef Zalal in the UFC Fight Night main event Saturday in Las Vegas, improving to 3-1 since he moved up to 145 pounds.
Though No. 1-ranked contender Movsar Evloev has been the front-runner to challenge Volkanovski next, Sterling said Monday he deserves to skip the line.
"I think I stated my claim," Sterling told "The Ariel Helwani Show." "I think I did it in a very, very big way."
He added, "Who doesn't want to see Volkanovski versus The Funkmaster? What are we talking about? What do we have to do to give the people what they want? Two OGs, two legends of their weight classes. Now I'm in a new one, trying to be a two-division champion against one of the all-time greats before he hangs it up. I think I more than deserve and earned my shot."
Volkanovski is in the midst of his second reign as featherweight champion. The 37-year-old Australian reclaimed the title with a unanimous decision win over Diego Lopes at UFC 314 last April and has since defended it with another victory over Lopes at UFC 325 in January.
Sterling, 36, moved up to 145 pounds in 2024 after losing the bantamweight title. He has beaten Calvin Kattar, Brian Ortega, and now Zalal, with his lone loss in the division coming against Evloev at UFC 310 in December 2024.
The UFC hasn't scheduled Volkanovski's next title defense, but many expect it will come against Evloev, who defeated Lerone Murphy by majority decision at UFC London in March to lift his professional record to 20-0.
Sterling was ranked No. 5 in the weight class before beating No. 7 Zalal. He said he wouldn't be upset if the promotion gives Evloev the next title shot, but he thinks MMA fans would be more eager to see him fight for the belt than Evloev.
"Styles make fights," Sterling said. "I don't think these guys have anything for (Volkanovski). I think Volk is just that damn good still. But I guarantee you, if you give me the opportunity, I will figure out the puzzle, and I will die trying to do it."
