Aljamain Sterling vs Raphael Assuncao — Fight recap

Raphael Assuncao defeated Aljamain Sterling via split decision at UFC Fight Night 105 on January 28, 2017, taking all three rounds under referee Tim Mills. Despite Sterling's volume advantage—landing 52 of 172 significant strikes (30%) compared to Assuncao's 39 of 101 (38%)—the Brazilian's efficiency and precision proved decisive.

Sterling attempted three takedowns but converted none, while Assuncao did not attempt any, keeping the fight standing throughout. Sterling's leg strike output (25 of 39) represented his most effective striking avenue, yet he accumulated just two seconds of control time across fifteen minutes.

Assuncao's superior striking accuracy, particularly to the head (10 of 60), and cleaner combinations on the feet allowed him to edge the scorecards despite being outworked in total volume. The result marked a significant setback for Sterling's bantamweight ascent, while Assuncao reinforced his status as a top-five divisional threat.