Petr Yan regained UFC gold earlier today (Sat., Oct. 30, 2021) at UFC 267 live on ESPN+ from inside Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, when the Russian fighter outlasted Cory Sandhagen via unanimous decision to claim the interim bantamweight title.
Both fighters got off early, but it was Sandhagen who was a little more active with volume and level changes. Yan did land a pretty nasty leg kick at the end of the frame that seemed to wobble “Sandman.” Yan came a live more in the second with heavy counter shots, but Sandhagen kept scoring with punches to the body and jabs in bunches.
Yan took control in the third round with power punches and a spinning back fist that knocked Sandhagen to the ground with about a minute left. “Sandman” survived and kept plodding forward with his own offense. Yan went back to his power shots in Round 4 and really started to tee off on Sandhagen. Sandhagen tried to change levels with a few takedown attempts, but Yan was too fresh and precise with every shot.
The fifth and final frame saw Yan land a massive head kick, but Sandhagen ate it and returned fire. Yan kept finding a home for his counter shots and it prohibited “Sandman” from landing anything of true significance down the stretch to steal the fight.
Check out the video highlights below courtesy of UFC/ESPN:
ENTER THE SANDMAN! #UFC267 pic.twitter.com/WRUwUBQdZg
— UFC (@ufc) October 30, 2021
NO MERCY #UFC267 pic.twitter.com/WERpTsrxYU
— UFC (@ufc) October 30, 2021
An early chess match through the first round #UFC267 pic.twitter.com/gR96PLn9mW
— UFC (@ufc) October 30, 2021
As advertised! These two want that belt
[ #UFC267 | Tune in LIVE on @ESPNPlus | @VisitAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | #InAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/IDsNgbxeUT
— UFC (@ufc) October 30, 2021
El intento de rodilla voladora de Sandhagen llega temprano #UFC267 pic.twitter.com/WD89z0gC4L
— UFC Español (@UFCEspanol) October 30, 2021
The counter striking in this fight is next level #UFC267 pic.twitter.com/2twi3Fjq7B
— UFC (@ufc) October 30, 2021
PETRY YAN DROPS SANDHAGEN WITH A SPINNING BACKFIST #UFC267 pic.twitter.com/DVaBqdxzCW
— UFC (@ufc) October 30, 2021
Yan parece ser el mejor en la segunda parte de la pelea #UFC267 pic.twitter.com/Yh8TF7fvgG
— UFC Español (@UFCEspanol) October 30, 2021
Sandhagen responds with a takedown!
[ #UFC267 | Tune in LIVE on @ESPNPlus | @VisitAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | #InAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/EbA7LNdHmU
— UFC (@ufc) October 30, 2021
Las manos de Yan son una belleza ahora #UFC267 pic.twitter.com/yBKwuDVzrJ
— UFC Español (@UFCEspanol) October 30, 2021
Yan sticking to the fundamentals #UFC267 pic.twitter.com/dfQA9QdIxZ
— UFC (@ufc) October 30, 2021
WHAT A FIGHT
[ #UFC267 | Tune in LIVE on @ESPNPlus | @VisitAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | #InAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/dvSAjeKRQe
— UFC (@ufc) October 30, 2021
For complete UFC 267 results and coverage click here.