Yan & Sandhagen to Dual for an Interim Title at UFC 267
A Bantamweight title fight will still happen at UFC 267 but not the one that was originally announced.
Due to lingering injuries Aljamain Sterling has been forced to withdraw from his defending the UFC bantamweight championship October 30th. Petr Yan (15-2) will remain on the card now facing number three ranked contender Cory Sandhagen (14-3).
October 30th was to be the rematch from UFC 259 where a blatantly illegal knee from Petr Yan caused a disqualification that handed Aljamain Sterling the UFC Bantamweight Title. Not long after the fight Sterling had neck surgery and reports suggested he was hopeful the rematch with Yan could be postponed. The UFC instead has opted to keep a healthy Yan on the card. The move also keeps the championship for arguably the promotions deepest division in the forefront.
Russia’s Yan a former ACB champion debut in the UFC in 2018 with a decision win over Teruto Ishihara. Decision wins over two-time title challenger John Dodoson and perennial contender Jimmie Rivera secured Yan’s title opportunity. The UFC title dream was realized at UFC 251 when Yan vicious stopped Jose Aldo due to unanswered ground strikes.
Colorado’s Sandhagen won his first five fights in the UFC including decisions over John Lineker & Raphael Assuncao. The Colorado fighters’ journey to the top hit a snack at UFC 250 when Aljamain Sterling jumped on his back and secured a rear naked choke. Sandhagen rebounded in spectacular fashion knocking out Marlon Moraes with wheel kick and Frankie Edgar with a flying knee.
In July Sandhagen was on the losing side of a split decision to TJ Dillahsaw who sits between Yan & Sandhagen in the rankings. It’s Sandhagen who’s taking the fight because Dillashaw came away from the fight with a list of injuries.
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