“For me, I’m not interested in the rematch if I win the belt this Saturday”.
Petr Yan has no interest in a rematch with Aljamain Sterling even if he beats Cory Sandhagen to capture the interim bantamweight title at UFC 267 this Saturday.
Yan says it is Sterling who has to prove himself worthy of the rematch despite ‘Funk Master’ beating ‘No Mercy’ via DQ to win the belt in their bantamweight title bout at UFC 259 earlier this year.
“Sterling needs the rematch to prove that he can do something. For me, I’m not interested in the rematch if I win the belt this Saturday,” Yan told MMA Junkie ahead of his interim title bout with Sandhagen on Saturday.
Yan was originally expected to rematch Sterling at UFC 267 but the latter withdrew from the matchup due to injury.
Yan will face No. 3-ranked Sandhagen instead and, while he respects ‘The Sandman’, the Russian believes he is the vastly superior fighter in every department.
“He’s a well-deserving opponent who’s very versatile and very good everywhere,” Yan said of Sandhagen. “In the fight, I just want to showcase in which aspect I am greater than him.”
UFC 267, which features Yan vs. Sandhagen as the co-main event, takes place Saturday, Oct. 30 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.