August 2023 was the time when Aljamain Sterling played the final match at Bantamweight. He had an unhappy memory. Sterling suddenly received defeat against Sean O'Malley, who won with a technical knock out of the second half.
In fact, the plan to rank Featherweight has always been in the head of Aljamain Sterling for many years. He said that he will not cling to the bantamweight at all costs. One of the reasons why Sterling was given by his teammate, Merab Dvalishvili also played in Bantamweight.
The first opponent of Aljamain Sterling on the day he ranked Featherweight played Calvin Kattar. They will encounter at UFC 300. Kattar is a relatively suitable opponent for Sterling, because he currently has no good performance, when losing the last 3/4 matches at UFC.
Another fulcrum of Sterling in the match against Kattar is that he owns a fight that can counter the opponent. Sterling is about comprehensive play and objects, while Kattar strongly fights. That's why Sterling declared that he could end the opponent early in the upcoming match.
“I will defeat Kattar in the second half. I am stronger than him in terms of locking techniques, so I will use this advantage to end the match early. If possible, I want to win with a 'strangled python' of the opponent,” Sterling confidently confirmed in the press conference before the event.
Sterling is less than Kattar's age, but lasts long lasting at UFC. As of 2024, Sterling has been with 10 years with the tournament. It took him 7 years to get his first string match in 2021, when defeating Russian opponent Petr Yan. Sterling later won TJ Dillashaw and Henry Cejudo.