Home » Sports » MMA

Aljamain Sterling given ‘one hour’ to accept UFC Qatar fight, rejected Aaron Pico — ‘What does that do for me?’

“Funk Master” is ready to turn back another prospect. Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Bantamweight champion-turned-Featherweight contender Aljamain Sterling returns against red-hot prospect Kevin Vallejos in the UFC Qatar co-main event on Nov. 21, 2026, inside Ali Bin Hamad Al…

By Alexander Behunin · MMA Mania

Published: Wednesday, 30 September 2026 at 10:19 PM

Key Things to Know

Aljamain Sterling had one hour to accept a fight against Kevin Vallejos at UFC Qatar.
Sterling rejected an offer to face Aaron Pico at UFC 333, citing Pico's 1-1 UFC record.
The co-main event against Vallejos takes place on Nov. 21, 2026, in Al Rayyan, Qatar.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Former UFC Bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling revealed he was given just one hour to accept a co-main event bout against prospect Kevin Vallejos at UFC Qatar on Nov. 21, 2026. Sterling accepted the fight at Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena in Al Rayyan despite having no time to consult his team, driven by his desire to compete again before the end of the year.

Sterling also disclosed that he turned down an offer to face Aaron Pico at UFC 333, questioning what fighting someone with a 1-1 UFC record would do for his title aspirations. He explained that Vallejos was a more sensible matchup as he pursues his ultimate goal of becoming a two-division UFC champion.

Read the full article on MMA Mania

Aljamain Sterling given ‘one hour’ to accept UFC Qatar fight, rejected Aaron Pico — ‘What does that do for me?’

More MMA News

Never Miss a Sports Update