Why is Aljamain Sterling being so disrespected?

[ThroughTheDakr]

Just over a year ago Sterling was champion of the Bantam division and was cleaning it up. 3 solid title defenses until he lost to Omalley.

In his new FW debut, he made his appearance on UFC300... on the prelim, losing a main spot to the likes of Bore Nickal. Initially I chalked it up to it being the big 300 c00L numbers but his next fight on 310 against Evloev is AGAIN a prelim fight.

So what gives? Is he just boring? Is a Landwehr-Choi fight just more appealing?

 

[BEATDOWNS]

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[Young Calf Kick]

Not a fan favourite due to a) not the most exiting fighting style and b)inauthentic person without charisma that tries a little bit too hard, and Landwehr has more exiting fights.

 

[wh4tttt]

When Hollywood went on strike due to his bad acting.

In reality I got no issues with him. When he's on his wrappling is great.

 

[Doctor Grudge]

He's boring, that's pretty much it.

The only time he was really marketable is when he won the title on DQ and got people mad.

It's not a respect thing, the UFC just thinks he's not that marketable, and they are probably correct.

 

[TheMMAnalyst]

Sterling vs Evloev is grappler vs grappler, they don’t want a wrestle-fest to open the main card of a PPV.

He gets paid the same regardless and if he wins he’ll be in position to get a contender fight for a title shot, so don’t feel too bad for him.

The only person he has to blame for card placement is himself for his low-risk/control-heavy fight style.

 

[fortheo]

He fights a grinding style that fans don't like.

Personally, I'm a fan of him. I still remember when he was a sherbro like the rest of you guys. He's always been very responsive to fans and still to this day responds on social media more than most fighters.

 

[Doctor Grudge]

He fights a grinding style that fans don't like.

Personally, I'm a fan of the guy. I still remember when he was a sherbro like the rest of you guys. He's always been very responsive to fans and still to this day responds on social media more than most fighters.

Yeah, he's pretty cool. I like him a lot on a personal level. But he's probably the guy that gets criticized for "backpacking" the most.

 

[svmr_db]

He's 35 (34 at the time of UFC 300) and not that popular, of course they'd give Bo Nickal the main card spot over him given they are more invested in pushing Nickal at this point than Sterling.

 

[World eater]

Good fighter, but content to backpack the opponent to a safe victory. Nate Landwehr might be levels below, but his fights are always fireworks. Why Nickal keeps getting main card slots, however, remains a mystery.

 

[Neck&Neck]

His Funk Harbor rum is trash and he thinks he’s Kid from Kid n Play

 

[Thy]

pause

 

[TheMMAnalyst]

It’s standard to open a PPV with an action fight and/or a guy the UFC wants to hype.

This fight is two grapplers, Aljo is old, and Eveloev wins only by decision - what more is there to say?

This shit isn’t a meritocracy, it’s a circus run by clowns that want to make money above everything else.

 

[Egészségére!]

Yeah former champ 10-1 of last 11 only lost the title & now he's down in the prelims

I know it's a business & they don't owe him anything but that seems like a bit of a slight

 

[tornado362]

Whilst I agree with Landwehr/Choi being far more exciting. There is absolutely no argument for Mitchell/Gracie to be on the main card over Sterling/Evloev. A former champ in a number 1 contender fight?

Over Mitchell who's only highlight was getting sparked and that one twister, which was 5 years ago. And Kron who's 1-2 in the UFC, and put on such an abysmal performance in his last fight

 

[CatchtheseHands]

Whilst I agree with Landwehr/Choi being far more exciting. There is absolutely no argument for Mitchell/Gracie to be on the main card over Sterling/Evloev. A former champ in a number 1 contender fight?

Over Mitchell who's only highlight was getting sparked and that one twister, which was 5 years ago. And Kron who's 1-2 in the UFC, and put on such an abysmal performance in his last fight

I agree. The UFC is getting too comfortable with throwing mid tier guys on PPV main cards. I could understand a little if they needed a feature bout for the prelims and Evo vs Aljo was the only option but for crying out loud, they got Smith vs Reyes RIGHT THERE to fill that slot. Mitchel vs Kron should not be anywhere near a main card people are paying for ffs. The fact some people in this thread are justifying them doing this is crazy.

 

[markantony20]

The fans hate hate him it’s really that simple.

Not even like Colby who people want to watch to see lose they just simply don’t like him.

Shame though controversy aside he’s a genuinely great fighter.

 

[Dreyga_King of Sherbums]

I love Aljo and if he beats Evolv he deserves a titleshot

 

[MarkHuntFanboy]

Sterling won the title with a fluke. To defend his title, he barely scraped by an overconfident Petr Yan (who had just mopped the floor with him in the previous fight). He then took on an injured, old, TJ Dillashaw, and an old (and overrated in his prime) Henry Midgejudo.

Got knocked out by rainbow dreadlocks... then laid and prayed Kattar.

As far as I am concerned, he hasn't won a fight since 2020, when he beat Cory Sandhagen in a legitimate fashion.

 

[Doctor Grudge]

Sterling won the title with a fluke. To defend his title, he barely scraped by an overconfident Petr Yan (who had just mopped the floor with him in the previous fight).

Erm...why wouldn't it just be that Sterling improved for the rematch? Really weird not to give him any credit and just say "ah, well, yan wasn't trying". Kind of ruins the credibility of your post.