Aljamain Sterling, the former UFC bantamweight champion, has voiced his frustration about being placed on the prelims for UFC 310.
The event, set to take place on Saturday night in Las Vegas, marks his second fight at featherweight, where he will face Movsar Evloev. This matchup was initially scheduled for UFC 307 in October but was postponed when Sterling pulled out due to an injury.
Since defeating Calvin Kattar via unanimous decision in his 145-pound debut at UFC 300, Sterling has remained a prominent name in MMA, with his fights consistently appearing on main cards or headlining events. His demotion to the prelim portion of the card for the year’s final UFC pay-per-view has left “The Funk Master” confused and unhappy.
In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Sterling shared his thoughts:
“I didn’t know if I should have been insulted by the placement on the fight card or glass half-full,” Sterling said. “I guess that’s the best way I try to look at everything in life. I get to fight earlier and get to be done earlier. I was a little confused by it, of course.”
He continued:
“I guess they have their rhyme or reason for what they do, the UFC brass, and it is what it is. At the end of the day, it’s not my organization. I don’t call the shots. I just go out there and compete, and it’s up to me to go out there and prove these guys wrong that I am a main card fighter. I think people are gonna be in for a very big surprise, and the UFC is gonna realize we messed up big time by not putting this on the main card.”
Sterling’s History and Prelim Placement
Sterling hasn’t been featured on a UFC prelim since June 2019, when he fought Pedro Munhoz at UFC 238. Even then, his placement was unusual, as the card was headlined by names like Henry Cejudo and Valentina Shevchenko in a stacked lineup.
His fight against Kattar at UFC 300 also took place on the prelims, but that card was a rare occasion due to its depth, featuring multiple elite fighters even in the opening bouts.
Movsar Evloev, Sterling’s opponent for the night, is similarly coming off a less-than-thrilling performance in his decision win over Arnold Allen in January. While both fighters remain highly skilled, their recent appearances may explain why the UFC made this decision.
The Bigger Picture
While fans might see Sterling’s reaction as valid, it’s also worth noting that UFC brass often designs their cards to maintain a balance of excitement from start to finish, ensuring viewers tune in for every fight. However, Sterling remains certain that his fight deserves a spot among the evening’s top matches.
The featherweight division is heating up with new contenders, and a win for Sterling against Evloev could cement his name among the elite in this weight class.
Whether his performance will validate his stance as a “main card fighter” remains to be seen this Saturday.
UFC 310 airs live from Las Vegas, with the preliminary card kicking off on ESPN+. Aljamain Sterling’s road to a second championship reign continues under the bright lights, even if earlier in the night than he’d hoped.
