Aljamain Sterling may not have much of Dana White’s privileges, but the former bantamweight champion believes he could still find more favor with his boss than the opponent he faces at UFC 310 on Saturday night.

Ahead of his fight against Movsar Evloev in his second appearance at 145 pounds, Sterling addressed the criticism the undefeated Russian faced when he went 8-0 in the UFC without a single finish. The UFC CEO was perhaps most vocal about Evloev’s unique style when he criticized him for a poor performance against Arnold Allen in January.

“That was the least fun fight anyone has ever seen,” White said of Evloev vs. Allen. “Do you know who lost that fight? The fans.”

While Sterling has also found himself in White’s crosshairs in the past, he couldn’t help but smile when someone else took the brunt of his frustration after a fight.

“I appreciate a technical fight,” Sterling said. “I wouldn’t really find it boring. I think Dana saying the fight with Arnold Allen was boring was a bit of an exaggeration. I think most people would agree with that.

“I think it’s probably more due to his dislike of Movsar. I think he might like him more than me. This is a good thing!”

As much as he appreciates Evloev’s ability to win fights, Sterling also understands that fans want rankings, and that’s something the featherweight contender hasn’t offered since joining the UFC roster.

“Eight fights, no finish, all decisions,” Sterling said. “I achieved at least a few placings there, especially at the beginning of my career when the competition wasn’t that tough. That’s what you’re supposed to do. You should stand out from the competition and I succeeded.

“When fighting against the best guys, it’s not easy to beat the best guys in the world, but I want to do it against Movsar on Saturday night.”

Although the fight may put the winner in position to challenge for a title in the near future, Sterling and Evloev have not been given a spot on the main card at UFC 310.

They didn’t even make it to first place in the prelims, instead the featherweights met earlier in the night and that never made much sense to Sterling.

Perhaps that’s because White despises both players’ grappling-heavy styles, but Sterling can’t get lost in those details with the fight just days away.

“I don’t really understand what’s happening because I haven’t spoken to the UFC about it,” Sterling said. “But nothing changes. I get the same money. It doesn’t matter where you are on the map. Your contract is your contract.

“The only thing I would say is that there are generally more people watching the prelims. The only thing that bothers me is the crowd in Las Vegas kind of sucks. Everyone is celebrating outside. They had fancy dinners. They do all sorts of weird things because what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas and then they get to the main card. So maybe the arena won’t be as full. That’s the only crap about it. Otherwise it’s lit either way. I’m going to celebrate, then hang out with my friends and family, drink some Funk Harbor and have a W.”

Sterling and Evloev’s placement in the preliminary rounds sparked an obviously angry reaction from fans, with many saying the fight deserved higher recognition. Even Bryce Mitchell, the main card fighter, stated that he felt Sterling deserved the spot ahead of him.

Still, Sterling appreciates that the perceived slight may have actually worked in his favor as fans rallied around him again, a feeling he hasn’t really had since winning the UFC bantamweight title for the first time in 2021 Disqualification won.

“Luckily they’ve supported me a few times since my promotion,” Sterling said of the UFC fans. “As soon as I lost the belt, it felt like they were back.

“I remember when I beat (Cory) Sandhagen, Pedro Munhoz and then Sandhagen, I was like the uncrowned people’s champion. Then I got a knee in the head and somehow I became a villain overnight. But it is what it is. It’s nice to see.”