“But 0-8 is crazy”: Aljamain Sterling weighs in on Dana White’s UFC matchmaking defense

UFC matchmaking is considered the best among all major MMA promotions. Still, it recently came under criticism, with UFC CEO Dana White defending it, claiming they are the best in the business at matchmaking. 

Recently, former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling weighed in on White’s defense of UFC matchmaking and offered a balanced perspective on the UFC CEO’s comments.

Aljamain Sterling agrees with Dana White but admits 0-8 record is “crazy”

After delivering another huge, action-packed event at Dana White's Contender Series season 10, week 5, White addressed the press, where a reporter highlighted that one of the Contender Series contract winners had previously defeated an opponent with an 0-8 record, raising questions about the quality of matchmaking. 

UFC head honcho immediately defended the criticism. White firmly defended the promotion’s matchmaking process and the work of its talent scouts and matchmakers, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby. He insisted that the UFC has the best matchmaking in the sport's history. 

White's comments have sparked the debate in the MMA world recently. Recently, Sterling reshared the clip of UFC CEO defending the matchmaking and shared his thoughts on X. The former UFC champion agreed that UFC does a great job by delivering great fights. 

While he defended the overall quality of UFC matchmaking, he agreed that facing an opponent with an 0-8 record is difficult to overlook. Sterling then revealed that he had a similar experience before entering the UFC. The former champion recalled facing a fighter with an 0-4 record early in his career.

“They are both right in different ways. The UFC matchmaking is pretty spot on for being the best. Depending on what you like to see in regards to the type of Fight, you will get. It’s all perspective. But 0–8 is crazy lol. Before I got signed, I did fight a guy who was 0–4. And I said ain’t no way in hell I’m giving him his first win,” Sterling wrote on X. 

Check out Aljamain Sterling’s X post below: 

As for his MMA career, in his most recent UFC outing, Sterling faced Youssef Zalal and secured a dominant victory. He is currently 3-1 in the featherweight division, having lost to the fighter who will challenge Alexander Volkanovski for the 145-pound gold at UFC 333, Movsar Evloev. 

What’s next for Aljamain Sterling?

‘Funk Master’ is eyeing an opportunity to fight for the feather belt. He has recently expressed frustration with the UFC for not giving him another opportunity for UFC gold. 

There are several contenders in the title mix, and one such is Jean Silva, who is fighting Jose Delgado this weekend at Noche UFC. He, too, believes that if he secures victory against Delgado, he will get the chance to face the winner of Volkanovski vs. Evloev. 

It will be interesting to see who is next, or whether the UFC will book Sterling vs. Silva as a title eliminator if the Brazilian passes the Delgado test.