UFC 273: Aljamain Sterling silences doubters, retains bantamweight title with split decision as Petr Yan decries ‘robbery’
- ‘Funk Master’ unifies the belt with a close split-decision win over interim champ Yan in Jacksonville co-main event
- ‘No Mercy’ tells UFC commentator Joe Rogan he wants a rematch, but Sterling calls out former champ TJ Dillashaw
Aljamain Sterling promised a different fight in his rematch with former champion Petr Yan and boy did he deliver.
The UFC bantamweight champion outfought and outsmarted Yan to retain his title in the co-main event of UFC 273, with a close split decision over the interim champion at Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida.
“No Mercy” had gifted his belt to the American in May 2021, kneeing his challenger in the head while he was grounded for a fourth-round disqualification.
Sterling had since been sidelined by a serious neck injury that required surgery, while Russia’s Yan went on to claim the interim title with a unanimous decision over Cory Sandhagen at UFC 267.
With a first round largely devoid of any action it was the second where Sterling took the fight to the mat and quickly took Yan’s back and threatened his signature rear-naked choke. Yan managed to hold on and survive, but as round three kicked in, the “Funk Master” controlled Yan at every turn.