Aljamain Sterling wants to clear up any misunderstandings about his opinion on Diego Lopes, the UFC 314 headliner and featherweight title contender.
Lopes is scheduled to fight Alexander Volkanovski for the vacant UFC featherweight title as the main event on April 12 in Miami. Sterling, a former bantamweight champion now in the featherweight division, respects Lopes but still believes his last opponent, Movsar Evloev, deserved the title shot more.
“I was surprised because I thought the fighter who defeated Lopes previously should have been considered, especially since he was active that year,” Sterling mentioned, referring to Evloev. “Evloev competed twice in 2024 and defeated a former champion in a close fight. Diego had an impressive fight against Brian Ortega, but I have my opinions.”
Sterling acknowledges Lopes` exciting fighting style likely played a role in the title opportunity, especially accepting the fight on short notice. He respects Lopes for taking the chance, noting that no fighter would refuse a title shot. Despite potentially not being the most deserving, Lopes is entertaining and has quickly made his mark in the sport. Sterling predicts Volkanovski will likely win unless Lopes can secure an early finish.
However, Sterling reiterates he would have preferred different matchmaking by the UFC.
“Ideally, I thought Volkanovski should have fought Movsar, and perhaps myself against Lopes, or Lopes against Yair Rodriguez, to keep the division active,” Sterling explained. He is concerned about fighters getting ahead without strong win streaks, disrupting the contender rankings.
“Regardless, it will be a great title fight. I plan to watch and hope to get tickets to attend. May the best fighter win,” Sterling stated, also expressing a negative sentiment towards Lopes` manager, Jason House.
Sterling mentioned the manager due to previous online exchanges where Sterling defended his view that Evloev was more deserving.
Weeks later, Sterling is still puzzled by the escalation but recognizes the fight business can be unpredictable.
“When asked about who deserved the shot, I said Movsar,” Sterling clarified. “But I also acknowledged Diego is right to take the title fight offer. It’s a life-changing opportunity for greater recognition and potential championship earnings.”
“I’m unsure how my tweet was misinterpreted as negative or bitter. Then they started arguing, and I responded to Jason about his industry reputation and cautioned against trying to blacklist me for stating my opinion. Perhaps he felt threatened,” Sterling speculated.
Despite any misinterpretations, Sterling is not looking for a conflict with House or any manager, especially without any financial incentive outside of actual fights.
“I don’t get paid to fight managers or people outside the octagon. So, there’s no issue. I’ve been respectful to Diego. If they have concerns, we can discuss them in person,” Sterling concluded.
Sterling is looking forward to his brother Kelvin’s upcoming fight and his own return to the octagon. With Ilia Topuria potentially moving to lightweight, Sterling sees the featherweight division as open for new opportunities.
After a close fight with Evloev, Sterling feels confident in competing with top featherweights and hopes for a significant matchup next.
“I’m excited about the future and waiting for my next opponent. I hope it’s someone who excites me. Fighting lesser-known fighters at this stage of my career isn’t as motivating; it`s just a job.
“I want fights that challenge and excite me, where the outcome is uncertain, but I’m ready to give my best. I aim to fight another highly ranked opponent and prove my place in this division.”
