Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling has unexpectedly joined the race to secure a spot in the cage at the March tournament in London. The American has publicly stated that he wants to be the backup fighter for the main event of UFC Fight Night 270—a featherweight bout between Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy, which will take place on March 21 at the O2 Arena.
Sterling has a personal score to settle with Evloev: in December 2024 at UFC 310, Movsar confidently won by unanimous decision, dealing Aljamain a defeat in the featherweight division. Since then, the American has been looking for ways to get back to the top of the 145-pound division, and the London backup opportunity seems ideal for him.
In an interview with Home of Fight, Sterling was quite candid about his former opponent's reputation:
"I'm going to be the backup for the tournament in London. Movsar is one of the most unreliable fighters. How many times has he already withdrawn? It's usually him. If I get a chance to face either of these guys and win, then I think everything will become clear. I will get another chance to compete for the title."
