Does Aljamain Sterling need to prove why he deserves Main Card spot after UFC 310 snub?
Decorated bantamweight fighter and current featherweight Aljamain Sterling gets snubbed from main card of UFC 310.
Follow Us
Aljamain Sterling snubbed from UFC 310 main card (Image via Imago/X)
Aljamain Sterling sees himself fighting undefeated Mosvar Evloev on the UFC 310 card. However, the featherweight contest will take place on the Prelims, and not the UFC 310 main card. Considering that Sterling is a former bantamweight champion and is coming off of a decision victory against Calvin Kattar at UFC 300, is this placement incredibly unfair?
If you asked ‘Funk Master,’ himself, he would undoubtedly tell you that he shouldn’t compete on anything but a PPV main card. To make matters just that little bit worse, Sterling vs. Evloev isn’t even the ‘featured fight’ on the Prelims. In fact, that honor goes to former light heavyweight title challengers Dominick Reyes and Anthony Smith.
This makes us ask a question – Does a victory against Evloev do something for Sterling at this point? Is it a case of having to prove some sort of worthiness?
Why is Aljamain Sterling fighting on the Prelims?
We probably aren’t going to get a definitive answer to this from Dana White or the UFC anytime soon. However, we can at least take a punt at why Sterling got bumped down the card. First off, it might not even be Sterling’s fault.
Although Movsar Evloev is undefeated in pro MMA at 18-0-0, the Russian fighter hasn’t exactly been lighting the world on fire in the octagon. His last fight at UFC 297 attracted criticism from Dana White. It led to a point where Evloev had to defend himself.
If the owner of the company that you’re fighting for is finding your fight ‘boring,’ especially against someone like Arnold Allen, then you’ve got problem. In the UFC, the Russian fighter has never finished anyone via knockout or submission. As such, the label ‘boring’ will come upon a fighter.
For me, this is two fighters who are getting some extra motivation from the company. White and the UFC brass are hoping that they can get these two motivated to prove why they deserve to fight on the main card. It makes sense in the case of Evloev makes sense, but I don’t think Sterling deserves this treatment.
What fans are saying
MMA fans can be absolutely brutal when it comes to their assessment of fights. Sterling got a stinging review from some when he got into the cage against Kattar at UFC 300. You just need to take a look at some of the comments on the Sherdog forums to see how bored some people where.
There is literally a thread called “Aljamain Sterling Is A Prelim Fighter,” with comments like “If he wasn’t champion i doubt anyone would watch any of his fights. Almost all his fights are snoozefests.” Another comment paid tribute other ‘boring fighters’ from the past – “He makes the likes of Jake Shields and Jon Fitch look like exciting fighters.”
You have to put the fight into context though. Sterling faced a top 10 ranked fighter in Kattar in a heavier weight class. Not only did Sterling dominate the fight with 89 strikes to Kattar’s 19, but 39 of those were classed as ‘Signifcant Strikes’ compared to 8 for Kattar.
This was Sterling’s first fight since he was knocked out by Sean O’Malley in a new weight class and against a Top 10 ranked fighter. You can’t knock Sterling for at least taking on a challenge when he easily could’ve taken someone lower ranked.
What a win could mean for Aljamain Sterling
Evloev is currently ranked #5 in the featherweight division while Sterling sits at #9. Hence, a win here for Sterling puts him towards the upper end of the 145-pound weight class. If it happens and Sterling wins in a pretty decisive fashion, we might finally get the Sterling vs. Alexander Volkanovski fight that many expected would take place before UFC 292.
Unless Sterling is able to make a huge statement against Mosvar, then I don’t see him contending for the featherweight title in his next 2-3 fights. Having said that, there’s no reason why a good run in the weight class couldn’t put him in title contention in late 2025 or early 2026.
Does Sterling deserve to fight on the main card of UFC 310?
If you haven’t guessed at this point, then yes. I do think that it is a mistake from the company to put Sterling vs Evloev on the Prelims for UFC 310. Moreover, Sterling does not have to “prove himself” in his encounter against the undefeated Russian.
Maybe, just maybe, this will light a fire under Evloev and he himself can really start to prove that he can have entertaining fights in the octagon. It is something that makes a massive difference to your career whether you like it or not.
Sterling is trying to prove himself in a new weight class. However, a former champion of his caliber with wins over the likes of Henry Cejudo, Petr Yan, Pedro Munhoz, and T.J. Dillashaw shouldn’t be on the Prelims, come on!
You may well not like Aljo as a fighter, you might find his style boring. Nevertheless, he can win fights at the elite level of the sport. Being a former champion and coming off an impressive win in a bigger weight class should be rewarded. Putting Aljo on the Prelims of what isn’t exactly a strong card overall remains appalling. Sterling was on the Prelims of UFC 300, but that’s UFC 300, but not UFC 310.
Related: Alcoholic drinks part of training camp, admits UFC star Aljamain Sterling
Stay Updated!
Jake Skudder
(17 Articles Published)