Aljamain Sterling

Aljamain Sterling, nicknamed “Funk Master,” is an American mixed martial artist and former UFC Bantamweight Champion now competing at featherweight. His net worth is estimated at around $2 million to $3 million, built primarily on UFC fight purses, title bonuses, and sponsorships.

Early Life & Family

Sterling was born on July 31, 1989, in Uniondale, New York, to Jamaican parents, Cleveland and Sophie Sterling, and grew up with a large family of full and half-siblings. To steer clear of gang activity that some of his brothers had been drawn into, he took up wrestling at Uniondale High School in 2004.

Rise to Fame

Sterling continued wrestling at Morrisville State College before transferring to SUNY Cortland, where he became a two-time NCAA Division III All-American and earned a degree in physical education — a grappling foundation that carried directly into his unorthodox MMA style.

Career History

Sterling’s UFC title run began at UFC 259 in March 2021, when he was awarded the bantamweight belt after champion Petr Yan was disqualified for an illegal knee strike — the first championship in UFC history won by disqualification. He went on to make the most consecutive bantamweight title defenses in UFC history before eventually moving up to compete in the featherweight division.

How They Built Their Wealth

Sterling’s income has come from UFC fight purses, championship and performance bonuses during his bantamweight title reign, and sponsorship deals tied to his standing as a former champion with one of the sport’s most durable title runs.

Personal Life

Sterling has spoken publicly about his upbringing in Uniondale and his Jamaican heritage, and continues to represent his home gym roots from his high school and college wrestling background.

Now competing at featherweight, Aljamain Sterling’s estimated net worth of $2 million to $3 million reflects one of the most successful bantamweight championship reigns in UFC history.