Aljamain Sterling vs Petr Yan 2 Set For UFC 272 on March 5th

ESPN reports that UFC 272 will be headlined by the trilogy of Alexander Volkanovski vs Max Holloway, with Sterling vs Yan 2 also set to take place at the PPV event on March 5th. The contracts for the title fights are yet to have been signed but are close to being finalized.

Sterling and Yan will fight nearly a year on from when the American won the UFC bantamweight crown via disqualification as the former champion threw an intentional illegal knee to the head of Sterling in the fourth round.

Aljamain Sterling (20-3, 12-3 UFC) has undertaken surgery on his neck since he claimed the title. The bantamweight champion claims he had the injury going into UFC 259 and has since been recuperating. The ‘Funk Master’ has been under a lot of fire for the fashion in which he won the title with many claiming he faked the impact of the illegal knee that ultimately won him the fight. The 32-year-old was also bashed for taking pictures with the belt and ‘celebrating’ his success with family afterward.

Petr Yan (16-2, 8-1 UFC) fought and won the interim UFC bantamweight title in October against title contender Cory Sandhagen in a five-round classic at UFC 267. Before his controversial DQ loss to Sterling, the 28-year-old was undefeated in the UFC having won seven consecutive fights. He had previously won the belt against an octagon legend in Jose Aldo, who he beat via TKO in the fifth round at UFC 251.

Aljamain Sterling vs Petr Yan

Yan will likely enter the rematch as a clear favorite having been on course to win the fight on the decision through four rounds during the first matchup. The Russian also has the interim belt on his shoulder entering the rematch to help up his claim of being the rightful champion at 135lbs.

While Sterling will claim that the neck injury was what was holding him back in the first fight as he will now look to prevail in more convincing fashion on March 5th.

Both fighters have been going back and forth over social media, making their rivalry that more heated entering the rematch. With the current undisputed UFC bantamweight champion going as far as to call the interim champion a “dirty cheat”.

Yan then responded claiming that Sterling is looking for another excuse and that the 32-year-old should “stop crying” ahead of the unification of the bantamweight titles at UFC 272.

Who do you see winning Aljamain Sterling vs Petr Yan 2 at UFC 272? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

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