Aljamain Sterling Eyes Diego Lopes for UFC 306 at The Sphere, Snubs Movsar Evloev

Aljamain Sterling

Aljamain Sterling, known for his strategic prowess and dynamic fighting style, is shifting gears in his UFC journey. After an impressive featherweight debut earlier this year, where he secured a dominant unanimous decision win over Calvin Kattar at UFC 300, Sterling is now eyeing a new challenge.

Initially, Sterling aimed for a title shot by calling out undefeated contender Movsar Evloev. However, negotiations between Sterling and Evloev hit a roadblock, prompting "The Funk Master" to pivot towards another rising star in the featherweight division: Diego Lopes.

“Stay tuned. Hopefully we’ll have some fight news for you guys. I’m thinking about Aljamain Sterling vs. Diego Lopes at The Sphere,” Sterling revealed on his YouTube channel. “That has a nice ring to it."

Expressing frustration over Evloev's reluctance, Sterling added,

“Movsar, I don’t know what the hell he’s doing. I gave him a date, he hasn’t accepted yet. He started making all these excuses. Either you want to fight on my terms or I’ll go fight somebody else. So, Diego Lopes, if you oblige, let’s make it happen at The Sphere, September 14. Let’s get it!”

Diego Lopes has quickly become one of the most talked-about names in the UFC. His short-notice octagon debut against Evloev was nothing short of spectacular. Following that, Lopes achieved three consecutive first-round finishes, including a notable victory over Sodiq Yusuff at UFC 300.

Lopes’ reputation for taking on last-minute fights was further solidified when he accepted a bout with Brian Ortega on short notice for UFC 303. When Ortega pulled out on fight day, Lopes fought Dan Ige with only a few hours notice, winning the fight and earning high praise from UFC CEO Dana White, who noted he “will do anything” Lopes and Ige want after their gutsy performances.

Recently, Lopes has been vocal about wanting a fight with former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski for the UFC 306 card at The Sphere in Las Vegas. However, with Volkanovski focused on a title fight, Lopes may find a worthy opponent in Sterling, a former champion looking to cement his place in the featherweight division.

As the UFC 306 card shapes up, fans eagerly await confirmation of this potential showdown, which promises to be an electrifying clash between two of the sport’s most exciting fighters.