“I’m not interested in the rematch if I win the belt,” Petr Yan isn’t interested in a rematch against Aljamain Sterling after UFC 267

“I’m not interested in the rematch if I win the belt,” Petr Yan isn’t interested in a rematch against Aljamain Sterling after UFC 267

Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling

The former UFC Bantamweight champion Petr Yan (15-2) is going to face the number 3rd ranked Bantamweight fighter, Cory Sandhagen (14-3) in a fight for the interim Bantamweight title at the co-main event of UFC 267.

This fight was originally targeted between Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling but, ‘Funkmaster’ couldn’t compete in this fight as he is still recovering from his neck surgery. Sterling is holding the Bantamweight title since he won it in a controversial way by winning the fight against Yan at UFC 259 via disqualification.

It was assumed the Yan will be calling out Sterling immediately after winning the interim title against Cory Sandhagen at UFC 267, but the former champion doesn’t intend to do this.

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Talking about this in the UFC 267 media day, Petr Yan says, “Sterling needs the rematch to prove that he can do something, for me, I’m not interested in the rematch if I win the belt this Saturday.”

Petr Yan believes Cory Sandhagen is a much better fighter than Aljamain Sterling

Cory Sandhgane vs Petr Yan
Cory Sandhgane and Petr Yan

The former UFC Bantamweight champion, Petr Yan is a sizeable betting favorite entering into this fight against Cory Sandhagen. But he believes Sandhagen is a dangerous fighter everywhere and he isn’t taking him lightly anywhere.

Yan added, “He’s a well-deserving opponent who’s very versatile and very good everywhere, in the fight, I just want to showcase in which aspect I am greater than him.”

Although even after this fight, Sterling is going to stay as the champion of the Bantamweight division and Yan or Sandhagen is going to walk away from the Octagon with the interim title wrapped around their waist.

Still, Petr Yan is going to see himself as the true champion of the division. He says, “For me, it doesn’t matter, I have a fight for the belt this Saturday.”  

Also Read: “He ran away, he’s had this injury for like 10 years,” Petr Yan on UFC champion Aljamain Sterling ahead of fighting for the interim title at UFC 267.