Credit:Getty/UFC
Credit: Getty/UFC
Credit: Getty/UFC
Credit: Getty/UFC
With Aljamain
Sterling still on the mend from neck surgery, an interim
bantamweight championship bout has been booked for UFC 267.
UFC president Dana White informed broadcast partner
ESPN on Tuesday that Petr Yan will
square off against Cory
Sandhagen for the interim 135-pound crown on Oct. 30 in Abu
Dhabi. Yan was supposed to face Sterling in a title rematch after
being disqualified for landing an illegal knee in their first
meeting at UFC 261. The Yan-Sandhagen winner will presumably be
booked in a title unification bout against Sterling at some point
in 2022.
Yan had a 10-fight professional winning streak snapped in the loss
to Sterling. The 28-year-old Russian known as “No Mercy” was
victorious in his first seven UFC appearances, posting notable
triumphs against the likes of Aldo, Urijah
Faber, Rivera and John
Dodson.
Sandhagen, meanwhile, is coming off a contentious split-decision
loss to former champ T.J.
Dillashaw in the UFC on ESPN 27 headliner on July 24. Prior to
that, the Elevation Fight Team member scored back-to-back highlight
reel knockouts of Marlon
Moraes and Frankie
Edgar.
UFC 267 takes place at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi and is headlined
by a light heavyweight championship clash between Jan
Blachowicz and Glover
Teixeira.