Former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling continued his try and climb the featherweight ranks on Saturday when he confronted undefeated fifth-ranked Movsar Evloev on the UFC 310 preliminary battle card.
After shedding the bantamweight title to Sean O’Malley and being uninterested in chopping a lot weight to make the 135-pound restrict, Sterling made the transfer to the featherweight division and picked up his first win within the weight class at UFC 300. Seeking to construct off the win over Calvin Kattar, Sterling confronted a troublesome 145-pound problem.
Evloev entered the battle with an unblemished report and ranked fifth within the division. His final three wins have been over Arnold Allen, Diego Lopes and Dan Ige.
Sterling pressed ahead to start out the battle. He landed a proper hand adopted by a leg kick. Evloev started inching ahead and was met with a kick to the physique. Sterling landed a proper hand and adjusted ranges trying to get the battle to the bottom. He briefly acquired Evloev to the canvas. Evloev made his approach to the fence however Sterling labored to take his again.
With 90 seconds remaining within the spherical, Sterling had Evloev’s again. Evloev rolled and stood however Sterling remained with him and slammed him again to the canvas. A scramble ensured and Evloev took Sterling’s again and drug him to the bottom. Sterling desperately tried to get off the underside and the spherical ended in the midst of one other scramble. MMAWeekly scored the spherical 10-9 for Sterling.
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Sterling rapidly took Evloev down within the early going of the second body. The 2 scrambled for place and Evloev ultimately gained facet management. Sterling gave up his again. He exploded free and the labored for place standing alongside the cage. They separated and Evloev linked with a proper hand. He caught a kick from Sterling and countered with a tough proper hand. Evloev gained prime place on the bottom. Sterling rolled to his knees and Evloev took his again. Sterling scrambled and labored to get Evloev down. MMAWeekly scored the spherical 10-9 for Evloev.
They opted to face and strike in starting of the third. Evloev went for a spinning again fist that missed and Sterling rapidly took the battle to the bottom. Evloev stood however Sterling slammed him again to the canvas. Evloev stood once more however Sterling saved the strain on. Sterling delivered shoulder strikes within the clinch. Sterling energy Evloev to the bottom. The scrambled and Evloev gained prime place. Sterling moved his again to the fence. Evloev delivered brief punches and Sterling stood. Evloev took his again. Sterling was unable to get off his again. MMAWeekly scored the spherical 10-9 for Evloev.
The judges scored the battle for Evloev through unanimous choice. All three scorecards learn 29-8. With the win, Evloev prolonged his unbeaten streak to 19 fights.
