Yan vs. Sterling Title Fight Off of UFC 256

UFC 256 is going through some changes with their main event according to multiple reports. The bantamweight title fight between champion Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling has been postponed until February according to an initial report from MMA Island and…

UFC 256 is going through some changes with their main event according to multiple reports. The bantamweight title fight between champion Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling has been postponed until February according to an initial report from MMA Island and confirmed later by MMA Fighting.  The news seemed to emerge not long after UFC 255 […]

The post Yan vs. Sterling Title Fight Off of UFC 256 appeared first on MMA News.

REPORT | Petr Yan vs. Aljamain Sterling Postponed

YanA bantamweight title clash between defending champion Petr Yan and number one contender Aljamain Sterling will no longer take place at UFC 256 on December 12 according to a report from RT Sport. The Russian outlet suggests an injury is the cause of the fight being scrapped. According to their sources, Yan vs. Sterling is […]

Yan

A bantamweight title clash between defending champion Petr Yan and number one contender Aljamain Sterling will no longer take place at UFC 256 on December 12 according to a report from RT Sport.

The Russian outlet suggests an injury is the cause of the fight being scrapped. According to their sources, Yan vs. Sterling is set to be rescheduled for UFC 258 which takes place in February.

“The UFC bantamweight title fight between Russian reigning champion Petr Yan and Jamaican-American challenger Aljamain Sterling scheduled for UFC 256 on December 12 has been postponed, according to sources,” RT Sports reports.

“Yan was due to make the first defense of the title he won by stopping Brazilian veteran Jose Aldo in the fifth round of their contest at UFC 251 on Fight Island in July, but as-yet unspecified reasons have caused the December showdown with Sterling to be postponed, sources in Russia have told RT Sport.

“Initial unconfirmed reports suggest that the issue is due to injury rather than other problems such as Yan obtaining a US visa.   
“There are early suggestions that should the fight not go ahead as planned this year, it will be moved to UFC 258 in February.”  

Yan has looked sensational during his rise through the ranks at 135lbs. The Russian has picked up seven consecutive wins on route to capturing the title vacated by the recently retired Henry Cejudo. He holds several hig profile victories over the likes of Jose Aldo, Urijah Faber and John Dodson.

Sterling has been knocking at the door for a UFC title shot for some time now. ‘Funk Master’ is on a five-fight win streak which includes a quick submission win over fellow top contender Cory Sandhagen at UFC 250 and a unanimous decision victory against Pedro Munhoz in 2019.

Who do you think wins when this fight finally takes place? Petr Yan or Aljamain Sterling?

The Best of a Bad Situation: The 6 Top UFC Fights for the Rest of 2020

Fight fans, I have some good news and some bad news. First, the bad news: there are some really bad UFC fight cards coming up between now and the end of 2020…

Fight fans, I have some good news and some bad news. First, the bad news: there are some really bad UFC fight cards coming up between now and the end of 2020…

Aljamain Sterling Calls For UFC 256 Main Event Slot

SterlingUFC bantamweight title challenger Aljamain Sterling wants his fight against Petr Yan to be bumped into the main event slot after Amanda Nunes’ withdrawal forced the headliner to be scrapped. UFC 256 was meant to be headlined by a women’s featherweight title bout between Amanda Nunes and Megan Anderson, with Sterling and Yan serving as […]

Sterling

UFC bantamweight title challenger Aljamain Sterling wants his fight against Petr Yan to be bumped into the main event slot after Amanda Nunes’ withdrawal forced the headliner to be scrapped.

UFC 256 was meant to be headlined by a women’s featherweight title bout between Amanda Nunes and Megan Anderson, with Sterling and Yan serving as the co-main event. However, it was announced on November 9 that Nunes would no longer be able to make it to the December 12 event. That fight is expected to remain intact and be rescheduled for a later date.

Following the news of the drop out, Sterling took to Twitter to let it be known that he feels his fight is deserving of the top spot.

Sterling has earned his title shot on the back of a 5-fight winning streak over some of the divisions top names. He most recently picked up a first-round submission over Cory Sandhagen at UFC 250, and he also has wins over Pedro Munhoz and Jimmie Rivera during his run. Yan, on the other hand, will be looking to make the first defense of his bantamweight title, which he won after dominating the legendary Jose Aldo.

With UFC 256 coming up in a month, it appears that the UFC will have few options to fill the main event spot. While bumping Yan vs Sterling into the headlining role might seem like the obvious choice, neither main has proven to be a PPV draw and the UFC usually likes to end the year with a bang. There are a number of big-name stars the UFC could call upon to fill the spot – Conor McGregor chief among them – but it’s unlikely any would be willing to do so on such short notice.

Whoever does eventually get the headlining role may not consider themselves so lucky. The spot has seen a bit of a curse, as it originally belonged to Kamaru Usman, who was set to defend against Gilbert Burns. Like Nunes vs Anderson, that fight was delayed until 2021.

Hopefully whoever does get to headline the card makes it to December 12, and Sterling and Yan are able to have an exciting fight, regardless of where they are placed.

Do you think Aljamain Sterling should headline UFC 256 against Petr Yan? Let us know!

Aljamain Sterling Rants About Mandatory Masks On Social Media

Aljamain SterlingBantamweight title challenger Aljamain Sterling is the latest UFC star to actively campaign against mandatory mask laws in the United States. Featherweight prospect Bryce Mitchell picked up the biggest win of his career against Andre ‘Touchy’ Fili at UFC Vegas 12 on Saturday night but was more interested in asking the Governor of Arkansas to […]

Aljamain Sterling

Bantamweight title challenger Aljamain Sterling is the latest UFC star to actively campaign against mandatory mask laws in the United States.

Featherweight prospect Bryce Mitchell picked up the biggest win of his career against Andre ‘Touchy’ Fili at UFC Vegas 12 on Saturday night but was more interested in asking the Governor of Arkansas to make mask wearing to combat COVID-19 optional.

Sterling used his social media platform to voice his opinions on the topic, he wrote.

“If you’re sick, wear your mask if you have to go out or stay the f**k home. All my mandatory mask people, I hope when this country loses almost all small businesses, that the government actually bails out all those little people.

“Don’t pick and choose to follow social distancing when it’s convenient for you and your fun,” Sterling continued. “Stay in your house. Sanitize until your skin rots, neglect vitamin D from the Sun, wash your hands until they prune, and avoid everyone. There, you’re safe now!

“My point and opinion is this: If you are sick, scared, old, at-risk, then please… stay home,” Sterling concluded. “If you have to go out, then wear a mask to help with your safety even more. If you are young and feel good about the survival rate of 99.6%, then do as you wish.

“For the record, saying to make masks optional doesn’t mean I’m anti-mask. Masks of course have its place! But my stance be clear for those that can’t read objections to their viewpoints: If you’re concerned about your loved ones, stay home and isolate with them and enjoy your time with them at home. Sacrifice your fun and time for what’s important to you!” (Transcribed by BJPENN.com)

Do you agree with Aljamain Sterling on the topic of mandatory masks in the United States?

Cory Sandhagen Has No Issue Being Backup For Petr Yan vs. Aljamain Sterling Title Fight

SandhagenCory Sandhagen is preparing to be the backup fighter for the upcoming bantamweight title fight in December. Sandhagen is coming off an impressive second-round TKO win over Marlon Moraes earlier this month to all but cement himself as the next in line to challenge for the title. Meanwhile, Petr Yan is set to defend his […]

Sandhagen

Cory Sandhagen is preparing to be the backup fighter for the upcoming bantamweight title fight in December.

Sandhagen is coming off an impressive second-round TKO win over Marlon Moraes earlier this month to all but cement himself as the next in line to challenge for the title.

Meanwhile, Petr Yan is set to defend his bantamweight crown against Aljamain Sterling in the co-main event of UFC 256 which takes place December 12.

And provided he is not booked against an opponent until then, Sandhagen plans on being the alternate fighter just in case either competitor is unable to compete on the night.

“Yeah, definitely that’s my plan,” Sandhagen told MMA Junkie Radio. “Moraes landed one really good low kick on me, so I’m trying to do my best to keep it moving so that it doesn’t get weak, and I don’t let my body get too weak. But I mean, that’s the plan.

“Right when I can get back to not the hardest training in the world, but if I could be 80 percent for the next month-and-a-half and kinda feel out whether or not these guys are gonna fight, especially today with the coronavirus and all that jazz. Weird stuff is gonna happen all the time, so I mean, I’m definitely gonna stay at about 80 percent.”

Sandhagen has not been approached by the UFC to be the alternate as of yet. However, he will keep himself prepared in case the opportunity presents itself.

“I understand that I’m the No. 1 guy that would jump into that spot, so I’m not gonna be stupid and just blow that away because I don’t wanna train,” Sandhagen added. “I’m gonna definitely keep myself prepared. I have no issue, or my ego has no issue, with being an alternate for that fight.”

Of course, Sandhagen could find himself booked in a fight in the meantime as Frankie Edgar has reportedly asked for a fight with him. Perhaps that fight could take place on the UFC 256 card as well?

What do you think of Sandhagen being the backup?