UFC 259 results: Petr Yan disqualified for illegal knee, loses title to Aljamain Sterling

Aljamain Sterling is the brand new (*259*) bantamweight champion, however the circumstances surrounding his title-clinching efficiency had been something however standard.

On Saturday at (*259*) 259, when he challenged Petr Yan for the bantamweight title, Sterling (20-3 MMA, 12-3 (*259*)) grew to become the primary fighter in (*259*) historical past to earn a championship due to disqualification. Sterling absorbed an illegal knee from Yan at 4:29 of Round 4 and was deemed unable to proceed by referee Mark Smith.

The first of three title fights at (*259*) 259, Yan (15-2 MMA, 7-1 (*259*)) vs. Sterling was an elite, barnburner of a contest for three-plus rounds. The struggle was offense-heavy. Sterling led the dance, whereas most of Yan’s offense was responsive.

As the struggle progressed, Sterling started to fade, however earlier than any additional questions could possibly be answered about his gasoline tank, the struggle got here to a screeching halt.

The ultimate sequence occurred because the clock ticked down in Round 4. With Sterling clearly down on a knee after a failed takedown try, Smith warned Yan of his opponent’s downed standing. Despite the referee’s warning, Yan delivered a knee straight to the top of Sterling.

Upon influence, Sterling confirmed indicators of harm. As he rolled round on the bottom and tried to sit up (solely to return to a mendacity place on the mat), Smith referred to as for the cageside physician. After a couple of minutes of remark, and regardless of Sterling’s disappointment within the state of affairs, the struggle was waved off. Sterling laid face down on the mat and wept into his fingers.

After (*259*) president Dana White wrapped the belt round his waist, Sterling dropped it to the mat, disillusioned and teary eyed.

After the official choice, an upset and emotional Sterling briefly interviewed with (*259*) commentator Joe Rogan. He apologized earlier than medical workers minimize his interview brief for examination.

“That’s not the way I wanted to win. That’s not the way I envisioned this,” Sterling mentioned. “I was trying to continue even being all f*cked up like that. I was in bad shape, and it would’ve just been ego taking over to take further punishment.”

With the victory, Sterling’s profitable streak extends to six. Meanwhile, the loss is simply Yan’s second of his profession. His first additionally got here in controversial style in opposition to present Bellator bantamweight Magomed Magomedov when the pair of Russians had been in ACB.

The bantamweight title bout was a part of the (*259*) 259 fundamental card on the (*259*) Apex in Las Vegas. It aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

Up-to-the-minute (*259*) 259 outcomes embody: