Chael Sonnen: Aljamain Sterling being 'overlooked' by UFC

Like many, Chael Sonnen is not too thrilled to see former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling on the preliminary card of UFC 310.

There’s no denying that Sterling (24-4 MMA, 16-4 UFC) vs. Movsar Evloev is a key featherweight matchup, as it pits No. 5 vs. No. 9, according to the UFC official rankings. Yet, despite its high profile, two other featherweight bouts – Nate Landwehr vs. Doo-ho Choi and Bryce Mitchell vs. Kron Gracie – enjoy a main card placement over Sterling vs. Evloev (18-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC).

Sonnen doesn’t understand the logic behind the UFC’s decision in the bout order of Saturday’s pay-per-view event in Las Vegas, which makes him think that the promotion is overlooking Sterling.

“I think that Aljo still can be champion,” Sonnen said on his YouTube channel. “I feel like he’s being overlooked. Historically, if you’re champion, and you go to a new division, you have to win one fight, but if you win it, you fight for the title. Alex Pereira, it just happened to him at 185. Kamaru Usman was in the spot when he went up. They told him to win this fight and he’ll fight for a title. It’s generally just one and Aljo already won two, and he’s got the deck stacked against him.

“I think he’s going to great in this fight, but I think maybe they’re missing that. I don’t feel like a world champion that’s got the potential to come back –I think Aljo maybe was overlooked.”

Sterling, 35, is 10-1 in his past 11 UFC bouts. That run included his campaign for the UFC bantamweight belt, his three title defenses, and a KO loss to Sean O’Malley – which saw him lose his belt. It also includes his UFC featherweight debut, which he won by outpointing veteran Calvin Kattar in April.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 310.