Aljamain Sterling backed Dana White’s defense of UFC matchmaking but said the 0-8 combined record attached to Quentin Pasley’s pre-DWCS opposition was impossible to ignore.
Pasley entered Dana White’s Contender Series Week 5 at 3-0, then stopped Arlind Berisha with elbows at 4:41 of the opening round. The performance moved the light heavyweight to 4-0 and earned him a UFC contract at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas on September 8.
The matchup sat atop a card that featured five unbeaten prospects. A reporter raised Pasley’s limited experience and the losing records of his earlier opponents during White’s post-fight media session.
Sterling responded to the exchange on X. His post includes the video of White answering the question:
Sterling Separates UFC Matchmaking From Regional Records
The former bantamweight champion agreed with White on the promotion’s ability to produce competitive fights. He drew a line between that work and the level of opposition a prospect may face before reaching the UFC.
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’s own comparison kept the focus on the regional path rather than Pasley’s performance against Berisha. He said one opponent he faced before signing with the UFC carried an 0-4 record, adding that he refused to become the man’s first professional win.
Sterling now owns a 26-5 professional record. He beat Youssef Zalal by unanimous decision in April, his third victory in four UFC featherweight appearances, and has since been selective about the next matchup in his title push. Jon Jones recently supported that approach after Sterling turned down an opponent outside the top 10.
White Defends The Decision To Put Pasley In The Main Event
White said he had questioned UFC matchmakers Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard about using a 3-0 prospect in the featured bout. Their answer was that Pasley’s ability would become clear once he competed.
Well, we're going to find out. I went through the records on here – because I don't know anything until we come in here – and I said, 'Why do you guys have a 3-0 guy headlining?' They said, 'You're going to see.' And you're right. I see that now, his opponents were 0-8… We have the best matchmaking fucking period, ever, in the history of matchmaking. It's just a fact.
Pasley justified the placement with the first-round finish, one of three stoppages on the five-fight card. White awarded contracts to Pasley, Isaac Moreno, Martin Kozak and Christian Natividad.
Sterling’s response did not reject the result or the contract. It supported the UFC’s evaluation of Pasley while acknowledging that a prospect’s earlier schedule can still invite fair scrutiny before the tougher tests begin.
