Movsar Evloev explains why he’s happy with fighting on UFC 310 prelims, despite former champ claiming promotion ‘messed up’

UFC 310: Pantoja vs Asakura is just around the corner, but even with the final PPV event of the year looming, MMA fans are outraged by the placement of one key matchup.

Former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling may have scored an impressive victory in his featherweight debut in April, but 'Funk Master' is furious as he has once again not been invited to the party taking place on the UFC 310 main card.

Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

Movsar Evloev shares a different opinion than Sterling on UFC 310 placement

The surprise of countless MMA fans, Aljamain Sterling vs. Movsar Evloev, despite being a pivotal 145-pound bout, has been relegated to the preliminary card for UFC 310.

This isn't the first time Sterling has been forced to fight during the preliminary stages of a PPV event, with his latest fight against Calvin Kattar also coming early in the UFC 300 night; however, that card was significantly more stacked than UFC 310.

“I didn't know if I should have been offended by the placement on the fight card or the glass half full. I think this is the best way I try to look at everything in life,” Sterling said via his official YouTube channel.

“At the end of the day, it's not my organization. I'm not in charge. I'm just going out there to compete, and it's up to me to go out and prove these guys wrong about me being a main card fighter.

“I think people are in for a really big surprise, and the UFC is going to realize that we messed up big time by not putting this on the agenda.”

But despite Sterling's understandable annoyance, his UFC 310 opponent isn't bothered by being buried during the prelims; he's just happy with the fact that he gets to fight at all.

“Guys, my fight will be broadcast on ESPN, many more people will watch my fight than on the PPV,” Evloev said in a post shared on his X (Twitter) page earlier today.

The pair were originally scheduled to face each other on the main card of UFC 307 in October, before Sterling was forced to withdraw due to injury.

“I don't even care if I'm the first fight of the night, I get paid the same. All my life I have worked hard to earn something that was never given to me.”

Fans have mixed reactions to Evloev's statement during the preliminary round of UFC 310

There are mixed reactions from fans to the draft placement of Sterling vs. Evloev; Some argue that it doesn't suit such a meaningful matchup, while others argue that a lack of finishing potential is the reason the two were moved down.

“It's outrageous that Aljo vs. Evloev is not on the main card,” read one post on r/UFC, while another claimed it was “appalling” that the fight was downgraded from its previous October placement.

Even on Evloev's own post there are mixed reactions, with the top comment reading: “You're going to put everyone to sleep with your boring fight.”

“I don't even care if I'm the first fight of the night”… yeah, that's exactly the point.

— Dshaf (@sshaf91) December 3, 2024

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Just a few posts later, another fan wrote: “This is the energy we need to see more of. Just a man grateful for the fruits of his labor.”

That's the best way to think about it. If something is beyond our control, worrying about it is a waste of energy. Just accept it and look forward to what needs to be accomplished next. I try to be that way, but sometimes certain things are impossible to minimize and ignore.

— Calibos The Skeptic (@Calibos420) December 3, 2024

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Given the current fight order and the name value of those fighters in the prelims, do you agree with Sterling vs Evloev getting an early start, or would you prefer to see Gracie vs Mitchell replaced on the main card?

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