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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 05: (L-R) Opponents Petr Yan of Russia and Aljamain Sterling face off during the UFC 259 weigh-in at UFC APEX on March 05, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 05: (L-R) Opponents Petr Yan of Russia and Aljamain Sterling face off during the UFC 259 weigh-in at UFC APEX on March 05, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
The highly anticipated UFC bantamweight title unification bout between Aljamain Sterling and Petr Yan has been moved to UFC 273. The fight card is set to be headlined by a featherweight title clash between Alexander Volkanovski and Chan Sung Jung.
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The aforementioned bouts were initially announced as the co-main and main event for UFC 272 on March 5, 2021. However, plans have changed and Colby Covington vs Jorge Masvidal has now been announced as the headliner for UFC 272.
A pair of title fights are headed to #UFC273:
◾️ Alexander Volkanovski vs. Chan Sung Jung
◾️ Aljamain Sterling vs. Petr Yan
Which one are you looking forward to the most?
Full details: https://t.co/TXlVCWWTyQ pic.twitter.com/WVg3SZBivD
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) January 11, 2022
Aljamain Sterling hinted at a move to UFC 273 when he spoke out about the same on his podcast, ‘The Weekly Scraps.’ Sterling put forth his theory as to why the UFC decided to move the contest to April after an original booking of March.
Also Read: Colby Covington vs Jorge Masvidal Finalized- Here’s What Colby Covington Texted Immediately After
“Quick update, I know you guys probably seen some of the news, but yes, they are talking about pushing our fight back to April,” Sterling said on his podcast. “Not because of me. This is what I was told that Yan isn’t vaccinated. Yan isn’t vaccinated, so he can’t fight in March.”
On my podcast, The Weekly Scraps, we talk about the reason why my title fight is being pushed back to April.
Mr. Potato-Head can’t duck 🦆 me forever!
–
*Watch Full episode in my bio*https://t.co/r7HWJMibRc
•#TheWeeklyScraps #AndStill #UnfinishedBusiness #Podcast pic.twitter.com/zl8Czx3pck— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) January 11, 2022
“‘I’m Yan and I’m not vaccinated so I can’t fight in March… I respect it, but it doesn’t make any sense and I’m making fun of it because it’s like was he going to be vaccinated in April? I don’t think so.”
Petr Yan jabs back at rival Aljamain Sterling
‘No Mercy’ Yan didn’t take too kindly to the claim that Sterling made on his podcast. Yan went off on ‘Funk Master’, calling him a ‘pathetic liar’ and he slammed Sterling’s claim that he was unvaccinated. He also went on to throw shade at Sterling’s status as the undisputed champion of the bantamweight division.
Pathetic liar desperately trying to look good and control the narrative but it won’t work. I’m vaccinated and ready to bash you anywhere even tomorrow. UFC simply doesn’t want fake champion to headline the event. https://t.co/aPG3WECd5m
— Petr “No Mercy” Yan (@PetrYanUFC) January 12, 2022
It’s clear as day that both Sterling and Yan have no love lost for each other and will settle their score in the octagon. Not to mention, as their bout is a unification contest, the true undisputed champion will be determined when it’s all said and done.
The bantamweight division has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to its contenders and the division will benefit from moving forward.
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