Aljamain Sterling vs. Kevin Vallejos
UFC Fight Night · November 21, 2026 · ABHA Arena · Main Card 1:00 PM ET
The brief
- What kind of fight
- Veteran grappler vs. unbeaten knockout artist
- Finish likelihood
- Medium
- The line
- No line posted yet
- The stakes
- Featherweight · Main Card
The read
Sterling's wrestling and championship experience give him a path to control a dangerous striker, and his recent form backs that up.
Vallejos's knockout power is the deciding variable everywhere the fight stays standing, and he has shown no hesitation letting his hands go against better competition than this.
A close, live fight that could go either way depending on where it happens.
The matchup
Sterling's wrestling-based control game is the clearest path to neutralizing a knockout artist who has finished his last two UFC opponents.
The former bantamweight champion has won his last two fights since moving to featherweight, while Vallejos arrives unbeaten in the UFC with real power in both hands.
If Sterling closes the distance and gets this to the mat, his pedigree takes over; if it stays standing, Vallejos is live to end it.
Tale of the tape
| 26-5 | Record | 18-1 |
| 37 | Age | 24 |
| 5'7" | Height | 5'7" |
| 71" | Reach | 68" |
| — | Stance | — |
| United States | Country | Argentina |
| Serra-Longo Fight Team | Team | Brothers of Life MMA |
The numbers
Career UFC averages. Red bar = statistical edge.
The fighters
Aljamain Sterling 26-5
“Funk Master”
Aljamain 'Funk Master' Sterling is a 37-year-old American featherweight and the division's No. 4-ranked contender, a former UFC bantamweight champion who moved up after vacating that title. He has won his last two fights, a decision over Brian Ortega in August 2025 and another over Youssef Zalal in April 2026, with his only recent loss a decision to Movsar Evloev at UFC 310 in December 2024. He now meets surging knockout artist Kevin Vallejos.
- WYoussef Zalal · Decision (unanimous)UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs. Zalal · April 25, 2026
- WBrian Ortega · Decision (unanimous)UFC Fight Night · August 23, 2025
- LMovsar Evloev · Decision (unanimous)UFC 310 · December 7, 2024
Kevin Vallejos 18-1
“El Chino”
Kevin 'El Chino' Vallejos is a 24-year-old Argentine featherweight and the division's No. 10-ranked contender, fighting out of Brothers of Life MMA. He has won all four of his UFC fights, three by knockout, most recently a first-round finish of Josh Emmett in March 2026 that followed a spinning-backfist knockout of Giga Chikadze. He now meets former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling in the biggest fight of his career.
- WJosh Emmett · KO/TKO, R1 3:33UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs. Vallejos · March 14, 2026
- WGiga Chikadze · KO/TKO (spinning backfist), R2 1:29UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Kape · December 13, 2025
- WDanny Silva · Decision (unanimous)UFC Fight Night · August 2, 2025