The co-main event of UFC 273 features a bantamweight title rematch with more than a little needle to it as reigning champion Aljamain Sterling faces off against former undisputed champ, and current interim champion, Petr Yan.
The first bout saw then-champion Yan hold the upper hand through most of the matchup before an illegal knee knocked Sterling out of the fight, leading to a disqualification for Yan. It meant that, for the first time in UFC history, the belt changed hands due to a disqualification, with Sterling leaving with a suspected concussion, and the championship belt.
Now the pair are set to meet again with both fighters keen for a definitive result this time around. For Yan, it’s a case of repeating the performance of the first bout, without the unnecessary illegal strike. But for Sterling, it’s a chance to shut up the doubters and silence the haters as he looks to prove to the world that he is the premier 135-pound fighter on the planet.
Ahead of the matchup, check out the UFC’s pre-fight film, UFC 273 Countdown, which tells the pre-fight story of the bout, with opinions from both fighters and their teams.
