Remember the ugly fallout between former bantamweight champs Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling? That heated rivalry, once filled with controversy and bad blood, seems to be reaching its final chapter—only this time, outside the Octagon. It all started at UFC 259 in 2021 when Yan and Sterling squared off for the bantamweight title. The fight took a shocking turn in the fourth round when ‘No Mercy’ showed no mercy, landing an illegal knee on a grounded Sterling. The foul led to Yan’s disqualification, handing Sterling the belt in one of the most controversial title changes in UFC history.

Their rematch at UFC 273 only added to the drama, as Sterling secured a razor-thin split decision win, proving he was the rightful champion. Now, as they say, the third time’s the charm—except this time, the two aren’t facing off in the cage but as rival coaches on a Russian spin-off of The Ultimate Fighter called Hype Reality. Surprisingly, they don’t seem like bitter enemies anymore.

In a recent Instagram video from Red Corner MMA, the two were all smiles as they reminisced about their old feud. In a lighthearted moment, Yan pretended to hand Sterling his ‘Oscar’—a nod to the criticism he received for how their first fight ended—and Aljo accepted. The caption read, “The first snippet from the new season of the ‘Russian TUF’ reality show has appeared online, and it’s hilarious.”

‘The Funkmaster’ took the joke to the next level, literally dropping to one knee to accept the award. The Russian fighter played along, handing it before cheekily mimicking the very knee strike that ignited their feud in the first place. Fans couldn’t get enough of the moment. What was once one of the most bitter rivalries in bantamweight history had now transformed into an unexpected bromance—a sight no one saw coming.

Fans cannot wrap their head around Petr Yan and Sterling’s camaraderie

Their first fight was filled with drama—a disqualification, an illegal knee, and a rivalry laced with pure animosity. But after nearly three years of tension, Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling have decided to make amends and finally close this chapter. For Yan, UFC 259 was a painful memory. Losing his title in such a controversial fashion left him full of regret, and he later admitted to feeling disappointed about how things played out. Now that everything is in the past, fans rejoiced at seeing the two reunite.

One follower said, “I love this honestly,” while another chimed in, “What’s going on here 😂😂.” Another fan added, “Everyone is making amends this year, man.” At UFC Fight Night 248, Yan spoke with UFC’s social media personality Nina Marie Danielle, where he recalled a key moment from his infamous first fight with Sterling. When asked, “What is something your coach has said to you in between rounds that have changed the direction of a fight for you?” Yan immediately had a flashback and revealed, “[In the] first fight with Aljamain Sterling, I asked, ‘Do I throw a knee?’ They told me, ‘Yes, knee, knee!”

After that, Yan lost his belt and never regained the undisputed title, despite later capturing interim gold at UFC 267. However, in the viral video, the former rivals could now be seen laughing together about the very moment that once defined their feud. One fan noted, “Glad they can laugh about it together,” while another hilariously pointed out, “Legal knee.”

Another fan simply commented, “This is wholesome,” while one even called them true greats, writing, “two 🐐🐐.” Now that their rivalry has turned into mutual respect, a new chapter begins—as coaches on Hype Reality. Are you excited to see them face off in this new setting? Share your thoughts in the comments below.