UFC 307: Top Contender Officially Withdraws from Salt Lake City Card

Movsar Evloev's fight cancellations are now in the double-digits after Aljamain Sterling withdrew from their fight UFC 307.

Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Movsar Evloev wasn't able to find a dance partner for UFC 307.

UFC 307 Loses Massive Fight as Former Champion Bows Out Due to Injury

Upon his return to the Octagon, the #6 UFC Featherweight contender was originally scheduled to face a former champion in Aljamain Sterling on Oct. 5 in Salt Lake City, but Evloev's biggest fight to date would fall through just a few weeks out with Sterling suffering an injury during training camp.

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Evloev Wanted To Remain On UFC 307, The Harsh Reality

Ready for war, Russia's Evloev (18-0) had wanted to stay on the card, apparently willing to fight anybody the UFC put in front of him, just as he did last year against UFC debutant and now top contender Diego Lopes last year with 3 days notice at UFC 288.

"I see Aljamain announced on his YouTube channel that he is out of the fight," Evloev wrote on 'X'. "I’ve been training for 4 months and would like to stay on this card and fight anybody, I’m not sure if the UFC can find someone to fight me but I worked really hard for this fight.

I see Aljamain announced on his YouTube channel that he is out of the fight. I’ve been training for 4 months and would like to stay on this card and fight anybody, I’m not sure if the UFC can find someone to fight me but I worked really hard for this fight

— Movsar Evloev (@MovsarUFC) September 18, 2024

Unfortunately for Evloev, nobody took him up on his short notice offer as MMA Mania's Alex Behunin reports the undefeated fighter is officially off UFC 307 and is back home in Russia. This marks Evloev's tenth fight cancellation since joining the UFC.

Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Who Could Have Stepped In On Short Notice?

There were only a few names on the roster that were mildly interested in fighting the top-ranked Evloev without the support of a training camp, two of which were Jean Silva and Bryce Mitchell.

"Lord" Silva (14-2) is just three fights into his UFC career but has made a big splash with knockouts over featherweights Westin Wilson and Charles Jourdain and a short-notice win over Drew Dober at UFC Denver earlier this year at lightweight.

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Having missed the 145lb limit for his fight against Jourdain and UFC 307 coming up next week, Silva had wanted to fight Evloev but at a later date, preferably UFC 309 on Nov. 16 in New York City.

A lot of people say they want to fight me on the internet, but if you really want to fight me call the UFC and I will fight you, make 145lbs and it’s a go, and I know you are more dangerous than Sterling but if I want to be a Champion I have to beat everyone https://t.co/aH40YBLpjS

— Movsar Evloev (@MovsarUFC) September 18, 2024

The #13-ranked Mitchell (16-2), who has been booked against Evloev on multiple occasions, also asked for more time to prepare for Evloev, telling The Schmo he's more than willing to fight the Russian if he moves past Aljamain Sterling altogether.

The former champ Sterling has said he'd like to push the Movsar Evloev fight to a later date - potentially in December.

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