Aljamain Sterling is contemplating retirement after a close loss to Movsar Evloev at UFC 310, expressing uncertainty about his future in MMA due to the physical toll and the challenge of climbing back up the ranks at age 35.
Aljamain Sterling is facing a tough reality check. This past Saturday at UFC 310, he lost a close preliminary bout to Movsar Evloev. It was a high-stakes match, potentially deciding the No. 1 contender at 145 pounds. Sterling, once a bantamweight champion, found himself out-grappled by Evloev, falling short on the judges’ scorecards.
On his podcast, The Weekly Scraps, Sterling opened up about the loss and hinted at retirement. He shared a candid moment with his team backstage, saying, "I need to let it settle a little bit, but at 35, I don’t know if I really want to climb the ladder all over again." The thought of starting anew seemed daunting.
He pondered whether the sacrifices are worth it—the surgeries, the pain, the relentless training. "Do I still have that fight in me?" he questioned. There are other fighters ready to challenge him, and he’s not blind to that reality. Maybe it’s time to focus on helping others prepare for their battles or just taking fun fights.
Since moving up to featherweight in April, Sterling’s record stands at 1-1. After losing his bantamweight title to Sean O’Malley via knockout at UFC 292, he bounced back with a win over Calvin Kattar at UFC 300. But Evloev’s victory has halted his momentum for now.
For Sterling, it’s not just about wins and losses; it’s about the grueling journey to get there. "I’m only 35," he said, "but my body hurts." Training isn’t what it used to be—once capable of multiple sessions a day, now even grappling feels like a challenge.
All three judges scored the fight unanimously: Round 1 for Sterling and the last two for Evloev. It’s the third round that gnaws at him; he believed he did enough to sway the decision. A rematch would be ideal—he’s eager for another shot at handing Evloev his first loss.
"I’m still kind of torn on the third round," Sterling admitted. "Three-and-a-half minutes versus a minute and a half… I felt I landed more effective strikes." Despite understanding the decision, part of him wishes for another chance.
"It is what it is," he concluded. Yet, there’s a lingering thought—they’ve got unfinished business. He believes he can beat Evloev and still compete at this weight class. There’s more left in him than that last fight showed.