Aljamain Sterling Frustrated to See Dana White and UFC Forget About ‘Best Fight The Best’ Motto

#5 ranked featherweight Aljamain Sterling gets candid about the recent UFC 324 and UFC 325 fight announcements.

Aljamain Sterling Frustrated to See Dana White and UFC Forget About ‘Best Fight The Best’ Motto

Aljamain Sterling calls out latest UFC announcements (via MMA Fighting, MMA Mania)

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Many UFC fighters often express frustration over matchmaking through social media, especially when they feel overlooked for major opportunities. This pattern continued as Aljamain Sterling called out CEO Dana White and the promotion following the UFC 324 and UFC 325 fight announcements. His concerns centered on how certain fighters were elevated despite deeper divisional competition.

UFC 325 will feature a rematch between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes, a decision that drew attention due to the featherweight rankings. Movsar Evloev remains undefeated and holds one of the top spots at 145 pounds, while Lerone Murphy is on a nine-fight win streak. Murphy’s most recent outing produced a notable knockout over Aaron Pico at UFC 319, which solidified his case for a title shot.

Sterling, a former bantamweight champion, moved up to 145 pounds after losing the bantamweight title at UFC 292. After a dominant win over Brian Ortega at UFC Shanghai, he signaled interest in challenging Volkanovski for featherweight gold. The Funkmaster’s past ambitions set the backdrop for his reaction to recent matchmaking trends after the fight announcements.

It’s 110% not what it used to be. I ride for the company but this shit is beyond frustrating! I get their POV, but stop saying we give the fans the fights that they want to see and we make the BEST fight the BEST! It’s way more frequent now and extremely hard to ignore. Especially at your weight class.

Aljamain Sterling via X

Dana White has repeatedly emphasized giving rising contenders a chance and building new stars within the UFC system. He has also criticized other promotions for relying on athletes released by the UFC rather than developing homegrown talent. These stances reflect the broader direction the organization aims to maintain. However, the announcements for UFC 324 and UFC 325 reflect contrasting stances.

Sterling has acknowledged that star power has influenced major decisions in his career. After defeating Henry Cejudo, he accepted a quick turnaround against Sean O’Malley at UFC 292 due to O’Malley’s commercial impact. The matchup held principal promotional value for the division. Sterling lost his title in that bout, reinforcing his stance on marketability shaping opportunities.

Sterling’s latest remarks highlight ongoing tensions between competitive merit and promotional priorities within the UFC. His criticisms point to a broader debate about how matchmaking decisions affect rankings, athlete trajectories, and long-term divisional structure. As discussions continue, Aljamain Sterling remains a prominent voice questioning how the sport balances fairness and visibility.

Aljamain Sterling calls out fans for being indecisive about the type of matchups they desire

Dana White also announced Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett as the interim lightweight title headliner for UFC 324, a decision that immediately drew attention across the division. Arman Tsarukyan, who delivered a dominant win over Dan Hooker, has remained the long-standing No. 1 contender at lightweight. Despite his position and recent performance, he was not selected for the interim title bout.

Aljamain Sterling
Aljamain Sterling (via Bleacher Report)

White has long maintained that fighters secure significant opportunities through performances inside the cage. This promotional stance contrasts with Aljamain Sterling’s latest comments, where he suggested that merit was not always the primary factor in determining marquee matchups. His remarks highlight the growing divide between stated principles and actual matchmaking outcomes.

It’s up to the fans to start complaining about this nonsense. It’s obvious the fighters can’t do anything but fight who they offer us. The UFC caters to YOU fans. Do you guys want merit or popularity in these marquee fights? Speak on it. All of you.

Aljamain Sterling via X

Sterling also expressed that such decisions make him lose passion for the sport due to its harsh competitive realities. He pointed to similar situations in other divisions, supporting Lerone Murphy’s disappointment after being bypassed for the UFC 325 title fight. These examples reinforce his broader concerns about fairness across weight classes.

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