Aljamain Sterling has shortly deserted the considered a Movsar Evloev Featherweight contender match up.
UFC 300 noticed the emergence of the previous Bantamweight champion in his new division when he earned a lopsided unanimous determination win over Calvin Kattar in April 2024. Initially, Sterling hoped for a high-profile pairing towards the previous division champion and now Baddest Motherf*cker (BMF) titleholder, Max Holloway.
Holloway’s unimaginable fifth spherical knockout win for the latter title towards Justin Gaethje (watch highlights) eliminated him from any non-title conversations for the speedy future. Due to this fact, leaving Sterling to take a look at a distinct high contender, which was the undefeated 18-0 Evloev. That was till Diego Lopes continued his rise with a chaotically short-notice unanimous determination win over Dan Ige at UFC 303 final month (June 29, 2024).
“Keep tuned. Hopefully, we’ll have some battle information for you guys. I’m fascinated by Aljamain Sterling vs. Diego Lopes as The Sphere,” Sterling mentioned on his YouTube channel (h/t MMA Combating). “That has a pleasant ring to it.
“Movsar, I don’t know what the hell he’s doing,” he continued. “I gave him a date, he hasn’t accepted but. He began making all these excuses. Both you need to battle on my phrases or I’ll go battle someone else. So, Diego Lopes, in case you oblige, let’s make it occur at The Sphere, September 14. Let’s get it!”
UFC’s new custom of celebrating Mexican Independence Day will proceed with Noche UFC on September 14, 2024. The date makes for all too logical of a return date for the surging Lopes, who has solely misplaced to Evloev in his UFC profession, a short-notice unanimous determination setback at UFC 288 in Might 2023. Coincidentally, Sterling headlined that occasion when he efficiently defended his Bantamweight crown towards Henry Cejudo by way of cut up determination.
