via Imago
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 06: (L-R) Petr Yan of Russia punches Aljamain Sterling in their UFC bantamweight championship fight during the UFC 259 event at UFC APEX on March 06, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
via Imago
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 06: (L-R) Petr Yan of Russia punches Aljamain Sterling in their UFC bantamweight championship fight during the UFC 259 event at UFC APEX on March 06, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling is out of his title defense against Petr Yan at UFC 267. The bantamweight duo was set to headline the pay-per-view, but Sterling’s lingering neck issues have forced him out of the bout.
‘Funkmaster’ won the belt at UFC 259 when the former champion, Yan, landed an illegal knee. The fight had to be stopped, as Sterling could not continue. Although he won the fight and the belt via disqualification, he wasn’t truly the champion in the eyes of fans.
Now, his latest withdrawal may lead to more questions, despite the fact that he could be seriously injured.
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Aljamain Sterling is out of the Oct. 30 title rematch vs. Petr Yan, per @MikeHeck_JR and @DamonMartin. Lingering neck issues.
Plan is to do an interim title. Cory Sandhagen is the current frontrunner but nothing is done (remember, Dillashaw is coming off surgery.) Developing.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) September 25, 2021
Per Ariel Helwani, the UFC is looking to do an interim title fight at UFC 267, with Cory Sandhagen being the lucky man. ‘The Sandman’ lost his last fight to TJ Dillashaw. However, Dillashaw’s surgery means he is now out of contention.
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Is Cory Sandhagen vs Petr Yan the fight to make with Aljamain Sterling out?
With the champion out, the entire landscape of the bantamweight division has changed yet again. Sandhagen vs Yan looks set to happen next. Although ‘Sandman’ has lost his last fight against Dillashaw, it was a razor-close affair and Sandhagen could very well have been given the decision.
via Imago
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 06: Cory Sandhagen reacts after his knockout victory over Frankie Edgar in their bantamweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on February 06, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
The wait for Yan just keeps getting longer. The Russian has been adamant about getting his belt back since losing it by disqualification. However, he is yet to get his hands on Sterling.
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Now he may have a tough opponent in Sandhagen standing in his path to ‘Funkmaster’. In hindsight, it’s great news for fans who will probably get to watch another epic fight in the bantamweight division.
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Further details of Sterling’s problem and a possible date for his return are yet to be revealed. It will be interesting to see when he is eventually back in the Octagon to defend his belt.
What do you make of the news? Let us know.
