Dana Whtie often claimed that Aljamain Sterling’s fights weren’t that exciting to watch. Even though he once was the bantamweight champion, he failed to score brownie points with the UFC head honcho because of his penchant for decision victories. So, it’s not really surprising that the former bantamweight champion is fighting in the prelims for the second time, against Movsar Evloev at UFC 310. Needless to say, the former bantamweight champion was left utterly disappointed at the fight placement. However, his Russian opponent was of a different opinion. 

Taking to his YouTube channel, Sterling expressed his disappointment, stating, “I didn’t know if I should have been insulted by the placement on the fight card. Or [it is a] glass half full and [I] guess that’s the best way I try to look at everything in life and was a little confused by it of course. I guess they have their reason for what they do with the UFC brass.” But ‘Funkmaster’ plans to turn this setback into an opportunity to prove himself – “It’s up to me to go out there and prove these guys wrong that hey, we are and 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.’” 

While getting placed in the prelims didn’t quite sit well with the former champion, Evloev didn’t flinch at all. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the Russian mixed martial artist wrote, “Guys my fight will be broadcasted on ESPN, way more people will watch my fight than on the PPV, I don’t even care if I’m the first fight of the night, I get paid the same. All my life I worked hard to earn [every]thing [and] nothing was ever given to me.”

Dana White’s attitude towards ‘Funkmaster’ perhaps stems from two things; Aljamain Sterling‘s wrestling-heavy style resulting in more decision wins than finishes in his career. The second is perhaps the drama involving Sterling winning the bantamweight title from Petr Yan at UFC 259 after the latter threw an illegal knee at him despite dominating the American for four rounds. It’s uncanny that Movsar Evloev is Sterling’s next opponent because there was an instance that made Dana White look at the Russian in the same light as the former bantamweight champion.

Movsar Evloev promises to change Dana White’s perspective with his performance against Aljamain Sterling

‘Aljo’ isn’t the only fighter who drew the ire of Dana White for ‘being in a boring fight’. His UFC 310 opponent Movsar Evloev was also involved in a fight that drew severe criticism from the UFC head honcho. After his last fight against Arnold Allen back at UFC 297, the UFC CEO had claimed, “That was the least fun fight anybody’s ever seen.” Now, the Russian fighter plans to put up an entertaining fight against Sterling and win White’s trust.

Sterling and Evloev were previously scheduled to fight at UFC 307. However, the former bantamweight champion-turned-featherweight suffered a shoulder injury during a sparring session and had to pull out, further putting a frown on Dana White’s face. Talking to MMA Fighting before UFC 307, Evloev said, “I don’t wanna think about this. They [the UFC] need finishes. I can give them finishes. Next fight, I will finish Sterling in the first round. Doesn’t matter [whether it’s] on the ground or striking. Now, I am looking for this so check my words.”

Despite being an undefeated fighter in the UFC, Evloev, just like Sterling, won most of his fights via decision. But with a little bit of effort at UFC 310, he might just change the narrative. Do you think that Aljamain Sterling vs. Movsar Evloev should have been on the main card? Will their performance at UFC 310 make Dana White change his tune on both fighters? Let us know in the comments down below.