Aljamain Sterling to face Kevin Vallejos at UFC Qatar

Aljamain Sterling is set to face undefeated prospect Kevin Vallejos in the co-main event of UFC Qatar on November 21, 2026. Sterling revealed that the UFC provided him with a one-hour window to accept the matchup while he was training, leaving little time for him to consult his team before committing to the bout at the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena.

Prior to accepting the Vallejos fight, Sterling was offered a bout against Aaron Pico at UFC 333. The former bantamweight champion rejected the proposal, stating that defeating a fighter with a 1-1 UFC record would not advance his goal of securing a featherweight title shot. Sterling, who holds a two-fight winning streak, aims to become a two-division champion before ending his career.