Petr Yan News

Sean O'Malley, Ben Askren
Sean O'Malley

Sean O'Malley calls out Petr Yan: "Wanna beat me up while you wait for your rematch?"

Adam Martin - April 13, 2021

UFC bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley called out Petr Yan, asking him if you “wanna beat me up while you wait for your rematch?” Yan was widely expected to fight UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling in a rematch next, but the fight isn’t happening anytime soon after the new champ opted to get neck surgery. That means Sterling will be on the shelf until later this summer or fall, optimistically, which means that Yan may opt to take another fight in the meantime. Though it’s unlikely the UFC would strip Sterling of his title, it’s possible the promotion could opt to introduce an interim title. Either way, it does seem likely that Yan will fight someone else in the meantime. And if that’s the case, O’Malley wants it to be him.

Petr Yan, TJ Dillashaw
Petr Yan

Petr Yan shares Marlon Moraes knockout in latest jab at Aljamain Sterling: “Actor fought 4 months after that KO”

Adam D Martin - April 11, 2021

UFC bantamweight Petr Yan shared the Marlon Moraes knockout in his latest jab at Aljamain Sterling: “Actor fought 4 months after that KO.” Yan illegally kneed Sterling in the head while he was a downed opponent in a fight he was dominating at UFC 259. With the knee hurting Sterling badly enough to the point he could not continue, the fight was stopped and declared a DQ win for Sterling by referee Mark Smith. The call was controversial, as it was the first time in UFC history that a title has changed hands via disqualification. Based on the rules, it was a fair call made by the referee. However, Sterling winning the belt instead of Yan has affected the 135lbs title picture.

Merab-Dvalishvili-Aljamain-Sterling
Petr Yan

Aljamain Sterling unloads after fans suggest he be stripped of his title due to upcoming neck surgery

Chris Taylor - April 9, 2021

Aljamain Sterling was not pleased to see that some fans were calling for him to be stripped of the UFC bantamweight title due to his upcoming neck surgery. Sterling (20-3 MMA) captured the promotions 135-lbs title in less than favorable fashion at UFC 259, being awarded a DQ victory after Petr Yan struck him with an illegal knee.

Petr Yan, Aljamain Sterling
Petr Yan

Petr Yan sends a message to Aljamain Sterling: “Your ass is getting stripped p*ssy”

Adam D Martin - April 9, 2021

UFC bantamweight contender Petr Yan sent a message to his rival Aljamain Sterling, telling him that “your ass is getting stripped p*ssy.” Yan and Sterling met last month at UFC 259 and their fight ended in controversy, after Yan landed an illegal knee late in the fourth round that caused the fight to be ruled a DQ win for Sterling. For the past month, these two rivals have been going back-and-forth with each other on social media. They did so again on Thursday when Yan took a shot at Sterling for potentially needing nine more months to recover. Sterling apparently told the UFC that he is not ready to defend his belt anytime soon and Yan isn’t having any of it.

Petr Yan
Petr Yan

Petr Yan slams Aljamain Sterling for suggesting the UFC is “rewarding” him with a rematch

Cole Shelton - March 30, 2021

Petr Yan continues to trade shots with Aljamain Sterling. After Yan was DQ’d against Sterling at UFC 259 to lose his bantamweight title, it was thought an immediate rematch would be next. However, Sterling has made it clear he wouldn’t be opposed to a different opponent  and believes Yan shouldn’t get rewarded with a title shot.

Aljamain Sterling, Cory Sandhagen, UFC 250, UFC rankings
Petr Yan

Aljamain Sterling doesn't understand why Petr Yan is getting "rewarded with a rematch"

Cole Shelton - March 26, 2021

Aljamain Sterling doesn’t understand why Petr Yan is getting a rematch. At UFC 259, Sterling fought Yan for the bantamweight title and it was a high-action fight. However, entering the championship rounds, Yan was starting to take over but in the fourth round, Yan landed an illegal knee and the fight was over and Sterling became the new champ by DQ.

Petr Yan, Aljamain Sterling
Petr Yan

Aljamain Sterling fires back at "dirty dickhead" Petr Yan, called "softest fighter on UFC roster"

Adam D Martin - March 17, 2021

UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling called Petr Yan a “dirty dickhead” as the two rivals got into a war of words on social media. Sterling and Yan’s 135lbs title fight at UFC 259 ended in controversy when the former champion nailed “Funk Master” in the head with an illegal knee in the fourth round, which left the challenger unable to continue. For the first time in UFC history, a title changed hands via DQ after referee Mark Smith deemed the foul international and Yan was disqualified. Sterling was, therefore, declared the winner and he’s now the champion.

UFC 267, Aljamain Sterling, Petr Yan
Petr Yan

Aljamain Sterling believes he "outstruck" Petr Yan at UFC 259

Adam D Martin - March 16, 2021

UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling believes that he “outstruck” Petr Yan in their title fight at UFC 259, one that ended via DQ. Sterling won the 135lbs title after Yan landed an illegal knee late in the fourth round that rendered Sterling unable to continue fighting. Referee Mark Smith called the fight off on the advice of the cage-side doctor, and Sterling was named the new UFC bantamweight champion. For many fans, it’s been hard to accept Sterling as a champion because many people felt he was losing the fight to Yan. At the time of the stoppage, Yan was up 29-28, 29-28, and 28-29 on the three judges’ scorecards, and he was winning the fourth round.

Petr Yan, TJ Dillashaw
Petr Yan

Petr Yan fires back at Eryk Anders for his use of an illegal knee at UFC Vegas 21

Christopher Taylor - March 14, 2021

Petr Yan could not resist the opportunity to get a shot in at middleweight fighter Eryk Anders following UFC Vegas 21. Anders (13-5 MMA) was one of many fighters to weigh in after Yan lost his title to Aljamain Sterling by way of disqualification at UFC 259. The now former bantamweight champion had landed a knee to the face of ‘Funkmaster’, while he was grounded, which caused an unfortunate end to the fight.

Anthony Smith, UFC rankings
Anthony Smith

Anthony Smith believes Yan vs. Sterling outcome proves "referees need to take more responsibility”

Harry Kettle - March 12, 2021

UFC light heavyweight Anthony Smith has called out referees for needing to take more responsibility after the Petr Yan vs. Aljamain Sterling fight at UFC 259 last weekend. As most of us know by now the Yan vs. Sterling fight ended in controversial fashion when “Funk Master” won the UFC Bantamweight Championship due to Yan being disqualified. Sterling was clearly unable to continue and the knee was deemed to be intentional, which is why the decision was made.

Petr Yan, TJ Dillashaw
Petr Yan

Petr Yan claims Aljamain Sterling is "the real paper champ" after UFC 259

Cole Shelton - March 11, 2021

Petr Yan believes Aljamain Sterling is the real paper champion. In the lead-up to UFC 259 and Yan’s first title defense, Sterling was calling the Russian a paper champion. He didn’t think Yan had earned his way to the title as he did, and he planned on proving that inside the Octagon.

Petr Yan
Petr Yan

Petr Yan accuses Aljamain Sterling of exaggerating injury to win title via DQ

Tom Taylor - March 11, 2021

Former UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan has hit his latest opponent, Aljamain Sterling, with some serious accusations. Yan and Sterling met on the UFC 259 main card, with the bantamweight title on the line. Yan, who entered the cage as the champion, seemed to be in control through most of the fight, but ultimately blasted Sterling with an illegal knee to the head. When Sterling couldn’t continue, he was named the winner by disqualification—which meant he left the cage as the new UFC bantamweight champ.

Petr-Yan-Jon-Jones
Jon Jones

Petr Yan fires back at Jon Jones after congratulating Aljamain Sterling on DQ win

Drake Riggs - March 8, 2021

Petr Yan lost his title at UFC 259 – but it came at his own doing rather than his opponent’s. Yan dropped his bantamweight crown after landing an illegal knee to incapacitate the downed challenger, Aljamain Sterling, this past Saturday night. Since then, the community has been buzzing with many a thought on the matter. Among the names was the former light heavyweight kingpin, Jon Jones.

Merab-Dvalishvili-Aljamain-Sterling
Petr Yan

Aljamain Sterling has a message for those who are offended by him posing with the UFC belt

Christopher Taylor - March 8, 2021

Aljamain Sterling has issued a statement following the immense backlash he has received for posing with the UFC bantamweight title. Sterling (20-3 MMA) captured the promotions coveted bantamweight title at Saturday’s UFC 259 event, but it was not in the fashion he or anyone watching desired.

Aljamain Sterling
Petr Yan

Aljamain Sterling "wouldn't be opposed" if UFC didn't do Petr Yan rematch next

Cole Shelton - March 8, 2021

Aljamain Sterling wouldn’t care if the UFC decides not to book a rematch between him and Petr Yan next. In the first of three title fights at UFC 259, Yan was looking to defend his belt against Sterling. Early on, Yan dropped the challenger and was stuffing the takedowns and as the fight wore on, he was starting to pick the Russian apart. However, in the fourth round, Yan threw an illegal knee which ended the fight and he was DQ’d and Sterling became the new champion.

Petr Yan, Aljamain Sterling
UFC

Petr Yan seemingly received conflicting advice from cornermen before illegal knee (video)

Tom Taylor - March 8, 2021

Petr Yan seemingly received conflicting instructions from his coaches in the moments leading up to his disqualification loss to Aljamain Sterling. Yan took on Sterling in one of three title fights on the UFC 259 bill last Saturday in Las Vegas. The Russian entered the Octagon as the UFC bantamweight champion, but after blasting Sterling with an illegal knee, lost the fight via disqualification, and surrendered the title to his dazed opponent as a result.

UFC 267, Aljamain Sterling, Petr Yan
Petr Yan

Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling renew UFC 259 battle on social media

Adam Martin - March 7, 2021

New UFC bantamweight champ Aljamain Sterling and former champ Petr Yan renewed their UFC 259 battle on social media the day after their fight. Sterling and Yan had an incredible fight at UFC 259, one of three title fights on the card. Both men had their moments in the fight, but it appeared as though Yan was pulling away late when he made a huge error and illegally kneed Sterling in the head while he was a downed opponent. Referee Mark Smith deemed the foul intentional and was forced to wave off the fight on the advice of the cage-side doctor, who said Sterling couldn’t continue. Yan then became the first fighter in UFC history to lose his belt via DQ (disqualification).

Petr Yan, Aljamain Sterling
Petr Yan

Betting odds released for rematch between Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling

Adam Martin - March 7, 2021

Petr Yan opened up as the clear betting favorite for a potential rematch later this year against UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling. Sterling and Yan put on a great fight for as long as it lasted, with both men having success throughout the first three rounds, and the fight was a tossup on the judges’ scorecards at that point. However, the fourth round saw Yan really start to take over and begin to hurt Sterling. He then made one of the worst decisions in a UFC fight ever when he kneed Sterling in the head while he was a downed opponent. Sterling defeated Yan via DQ after the Russian kneed him in the head illegally and the fight was called off by the referee.