There will be a new bantamweight champion crowned soon following the events of UFC 249 on Saturday night.
Henry Cejudo defended his title for the first time following a somewhat controversial second-round TKO stoppage over Dominick Cruz in the co-main event of the night. Cejudo proceeded to make further headlines when he announced his retirement soon after in his post-fight interview.
“I want to walk away. I want to enjoy myself,” Cejudo said (via MMA Junkie). “Since I was 11 years old, I sacrificed my whole life to get where I’m at today. I’m not going to let nobody take that from me. So I’m retiring tonight.”
Cejudo doubled down on his retirement in the post-fight press conference and UFC president Dana White seems to believe it’s legitimate as he revealed a new champion would be crowned.
The only detail he could confirm for now is that Petr Yan would be competing for the vacant strap.
Yan — who is on a six-fight winning streak since debuting for the UFC — was understandably pleased with the news and doesn’t care who his opponent will be.
“I’m very happy to hear this news @danawhite Just tell me when and where, I don’t care who’s the opponent. My goal is to win the belt and become undisputed champion 
”
I’m very happy to hear this news @danawhite Just tell me when and where, I don’t care who’s the opponent. My goal is to win the belt and become undisputed champion
https://t.co/cXUR683vKB
— Petr “No Mercy” Yan (@PetrYanUFC) May 10, 2020
Yan was previously slated to face Marlon Moraes at UFC Kazakhstan in June until the COVID-19 pandemic postponed the event indefinitely.
Maybe Aljamain Sterling could serve as Yan’s opponent for the bantamweight title instead?
Who do you think Yan should face for the vacant bantamweight title?