Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling joins Laura Sanko on One On One from Abu Dhabi to break down Alexander Volkanovski vs. Movsar Evloev.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
01:35 - Volkanovski vs Evloev
03:56 - Aljo's experience with Evloev
06:09 - Aljo Trained with Volk
08:21 - Who Does a Longer Fight Favor?
09:46 - Prediction
10:32 - What's Next in the division?
11:41 - Aljo Cornering Merab vs Yan
Episode Highlights
Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling joins Laura Sanko on One On One from Abu Dhabi to break down Alexander Volkanovski vs. Movsar Evloev. Sterling, who has shared the Octagon with Evloev and trained with Volkanovski, explains why he leans toward Volkanovski, why he expects the fight to go the distance, and what comes next in the featherweight division. He also talks about his own fight with Kevin Vallejos on November 21 and cornering Merab Dvalishvili against Petr Yan.
Sterling is in Abu Dhabi to corner Merab Dvalishvili while also preparing for his own fight against Kevin Vallejos on November 21. He says the jet lag has been rough, but he's still getting two workouts a day in while helping Merab with the final touches before the weight cut.
On Vallejos, Sterling says the biggest concern is power:
"He's got enough power where he can hurt you really good and get you out of there. So that's the main thing, is how do we neutralize that? I've been in this situation before."
He adds that camp has had the normal bumps and bruises, and that at this stage of his career he has to train smart.
[1:35 to 4:00] Volkanovski vs. Evloev: Volk's longevity and the path to victory
Sanko asks what has kept Volkanovski at the top at 38 years old, now in his second title reign and looking for his second defense.
Sterling points to hunger and footwork:
"I think it's just the hunger and the desire to compete and not getting complacent."
He highlights Volkanovski's ability to cut angles, never stay in one spot too long, and do damage when he gets takedowns. Sterling calls the fight a pick 'em but leans toward Volkanovski because of his size and championship experience, especially after his first fight with Islam Makhachev, a bigger fighter with a similar style to Evloev.
Sterling says he thought Volkanovski edged out that fight.
"I just don't really see what the path to victory is other than trying to outpoint him, but Volk is a hard guy to outpoint."
Sanko notes that Evloev is 20-0, including 10-0 in the UFC, but that some fans feel he lacks a danger factor because of his lack of finishes.
[4:00 to 6:10] Sterling's experience fighting Evloev
Sterling, who went 15 minutes with Evloev in a close decision loss, says he wasn't overly impressed because he landed all the takedowns in the fight. He points to one mistake late in the third round, when he tried to step over for "style points" and Evloev got a reversal, as the moment that essentially cost him the fight.
What did stand out was Evloev's control and grip strength:
"I sat on his back with two hooks in and I could not free my hands because his grip strength was so strong."
Sterling scores it as one round each with a very close third, and says the fight showed him he can compete for a title at featherweight.
He also believes Evloev is underrated:
"Movsar doesn't get the credit he deserves. I think he's a lot better than what people give him credit for because he has no finishes."
[6:10 to 8:29] Sterling's training session with Volkanovski
Sterling trained with Volkanovski in February of last year after the two crossed paths at a gym where Sterling was coaching for a TV show. Sterling admits he wasn't in fight shape at the time, and Volkanovski busted his nose during the session.
Sterling describes Volkanovski as "coachable, hungry to learn, tenacious, driven, disciplined," and says the session was eye-opening.
He also shares a story about trying to mimic Diego Lopes for Volkanovski before switching back to his own style:
"I'm gonna go back to fighting my style because I'm getting beaten up over here."
Asked whether Volkanovski was hard to take down or hold down, Sterling says it was a little of both.
[8:29 to 9:47] Who does a five-round fight favor?
Both fighters are known for their gas tanks, but Sterling believes a long fight favors Volkanovski because of how many championship fights he has been in, including his fights with Makhachev for a second title. He compares that to Evloev's biggest spot so far, a main event against Lerone Murphy.
Sterling says the unknown for Volkanovski is facing the aura of an undefeated, Russian-based fighter, but he expects Volk to handle it.
Aljamain stated "from experience, five rounds, I would say it definitely has to favor Volkanovski the Great."
[9:47 to 10:34] Sterling's Volk vs. Evloev prediction for UFC 333
With both fighters listed at -110 at the time of recording, Sanko asks Sterling for a method of victory. He says he would love to see a finish but doesn't expect one:
"I would love to see a finish. If I'm being honest, I just don't think it's going to happen."
He also said "I think it's going to go to a decision just because of how talented both these guys are."
[10:34 to 11:42] What's next for the featherweight division
Sterling sees himself in the title picture either way. If Volkanovski wins, he expects Volk to call out either Sterling or Justin Gaethje. If Sterling beats Kevin Vallejos, especially with a finish, he believes he is next in line for the 145-pound title, whether Volkanovski stays at featherweight or moves up to 155 pounds.
He expressed "I would like to be his MJ. I would like to be the last dance for him."
If Evloev wins, Sterling wants a rematch for the title, saying he still believes he won their first fight.
[11:42 to 14:10] Cornering Merab Dvalishvili vs. Petr Yan
Sterling is in Merab Dvalishvili's corner for the co-main event against Petr Yan. He says he has been much more involved in this camp, watching sparring and helping with technique, and that the focus has been getting Merab back to the mindset from their first fight. He believes the busy schedule of title defenses played a big part in Merab's loss to Yan.
Sterling also notes that both fighters are coming off long layoffs and that Yan had surgery, comparing it to his own comeback after 13 months off and neck surgery.
Specifically, when speaking about Merab, Sterling said "that's my brother. Been riding with him for a very long time. And I can't wait to be a part of that moment to see him get his hand raised."
Aljamain Sterling's prediction: Volkanovski vs. Evloev
Pick: Alexander Volkanovski
Method of victory: Decision. Sterling expects the fight to go all five rounds.
Odds at the time of recording: Both fighters at -110 (pick 'em).
Why Sterling picks Volkanovski:
Volkanovski's size and championship experience give him the edge in a five-round fight.
Volkanovski has already faced a bigger fighter with a similar style in Islam Makhachev, and Sterling thought he edged out their first fight.
Evloev's most likely path is to outpoint Volkanovski, and Sterling calls Volk "a hard guy to outpoint."
Sterling has fought Evloev and trained with Volkanovski, so he has firsthand experience with both fighters.
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