What Is Aljamain Sterling’s Religion? UFC Star’s Background Explained

Aljamain Sterling’s fans are in for a treat, as the former UFC champ is going to fight soon! Sterling faces Movsar Evloev on the UFC 310 preliminary card. This is going to be his fourth featherweight fight this year, and everyone wants to know how he will fare in this category.

A number of fans might have also noticed that despite living in America, ‘Aljo’ doesn’t carry an American flag during walkouts and after winning. It might be due to his personal beliefs that are unknown to most of the UFC community. So let’s dive right in to know a bit more about the same.

Aljamain Sterling’s religion and ethnicity

Sterling was born to Jamaican parents Cleveland Sterling and Sophia Sterling. He has also revealed multiple times that he was born and raised in Uniondale, New York. Born into a family following Christianity, Sterling also didn’t resist the family tradition and accepted it as his religion.

A number of fans might be well aware of these facts while others may not be so. Sterling’s name, ‘Aljamain’ has caused some confusion among several fans as they identified Sterling as a Muslim. But, such rumors have no truth to them. ‘Aljo’ continues to be a Christian to date.

Why doesn’t Aljamain Sterling carry an American flag?

Due to his birth in the US, most fans might think that Sterling would recognize himself as an American. Some might also expect him to display the stars and the stripes during his walkouts and victories, similar to other American fighters like Michael Chandler and Colby Covington.

But ‘Aljo’ carrying a Jamaican flag during his entry and after victories might have pushed several fans towards speculations. While the reality is that Sterling feels more connected to his Jamaican roots since he was born to both Jamaican parents. Although he spent most of his childhood in the US, Sterling might feel a little less attached to his identity as an American.

Even if he feels so, it’s quite apparent that ‘Aljo’ prefers displaying himself as an individual from the country where his roots lie. However, there are instances where he has walked out with a dual-sided flag showcasing the Jamaican colors on one side and the American stars and stripes on the other.

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More about Aljamain Sterling’s family and childhood

Aljamain Sterling’s story is truly an inspiring one. Growing up in central Roosevelt, New York, with 19 siblings, life was not easy for ‘AlJo.’ He had to deal with a harsh environment from the start, as gang violence was common in his neighborhood. One of his brothers was deeply involved in gang activity, and Sterling says his brother is still on the wrong side of the law. “One of my brothers was heavily involved in a gang, still affiliated,” he stated in an interview.

However, Sterling found solace on the wrestling mat. Encouraged by his high school wrestling coach, who saw potential in him, ‘AlJo’ abandoned his dreams of being a basketball player and instead pursued wrestling. Sterling excelled at wrestling throughout high school and college, compiling an impressive 87-27 record. He soon turned to MMA to make some extra cash.

Little did he know that this move would put him under the wing of UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones, who got a text from Aljamain Sterling on MySpace asking about his gym and training. “He gave me the address to his gym, and it was five minutes from my college, SUNY Cortland. So I went down as soon as the wrestling season ended.” By the time he earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from SUNY Cortland, he had already become an NCAA Division III All-American before joining the UFC in 2014. And as they say, the rest is history. What do you think? Will Aljamain Sterling be able to defeat Movsar Evloev? Let us know in the comments.