Aljamain Sterling accuses UFC 307 opponent Movsar Evloev of using PEDs: 'Where there's smoke, there's fire'

[autotag]Aljamain Sterling[/autotag] believes [autotag]Movsar Evloev[/autotag] is using performance-enhancing drugs.

Sterling (24-4 MMA, 16-4 UFC) meets Evloev (18-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) in a pivotal featherweight matchup Oct. 5 at UFC 307 from Delta Center in Salt Lake City (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+).

Sterling thinks Evloev isn't a clean athlete, which previously prompted a back-and-forth between them on social media. Although Evloev never has tested positive for a banned substance, Sterling is convinced that he's cheating.

''From what I've heard through the grapevine, he's not a clean athlete," Sterling said in an interview with "Home of Fight." "People can say whatever, 'You have no proof.' I'm like, 'Dude, same thing people were saying about T.J. Dillashaw from years ago and teaching people how to do it.' Cody Garbrandt calling him out at the press conference and everyone sweeping it under the rug, telling T.J. direct to his face that you taught everyone at the gym how to do it.

'Those conversations are not very different from what I've had about Movsar, and I think where there's smoke, there's fire. Do I have any hard evidence? Like, did I see the guy stick a needle up his ass? No. Did he pop for anything yet? No, maybe he never will. But at the end of the day, only him and his consciousness will know if he's truly a clean athlete or not. I truly do believe he knows he's cheating."

In a battle of two of the most elite grapplers at featherweight, Sterling gives himself the advantage over Evloev standing and on the ground.

"I think I'm going to beat that ass no matter where it goes," Sterling said. "That's just my humble opinion and may the best man win."

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 307.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Aljamain Sterling accuses UFC 307 opponent Movsar Evloev of using PEDs: 'Where there's smoke, there's fire'