UFC 259: Petr Yan’s coach says Aljamain Sterling ‘in for hardest night of his life’
- John Hutchinson says Sterling won’t be able to match ‘explosive’ bantamweight champ’s speed
- ‘Compared to Aldo and the guys Petr has faced, he’s not nearly there striking-wise. He doesn’t carry that same power or threat’
Aljamain Sterling is in for the hardest night of his life at UFC 259, according to Petr Yan’s boxing coach John Hutchinson.
UFC bantamweight champion Yan (15-1) will be making his first title defence against No 1-ranked contender Sterling (19-3) in Las Vegas on March 6. After their original December 12 date was cancelled because of travel restrictions and Covid-19-related issues, Yan and his team made the decision to move their training camp to southern Florida at American Top Team, to limit the hurdles heading into fight night.
“Petr is a true professional,” Hutchinson told SCMP MMA. “It’s hard when you are used to training in Thailand or certain ways. He’s adapted, you know.
“We’ve had to come to Miami here to change. But the energy, the buzz around him, it’s all coming together. It’s always good vibes around him. He’s buzzing for this fight.”
Even with all the changes and limitations, the focus is the same for the 28-year-old Russian champ – defeat every contender in the division, with 31-year-old “Funk Master” up next.
“[Sterling]’s No 2 for a reason,” Hutchinson said. “He comes from all angles. I know he’s working on his boxing now. The more he does, the better for us. I can’t see him standing up. Seeing Petr and the plan we’re going on, I think he’s in for the hardest night of his life.”