Aljamain Sterling vs. Petr Yan preview and prediction

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Preview and prediction for Aljamain Sterling vs. Petr Yan at UFC 273

Though not the principle occasion title struggle of the night, maybe there isn’t any extra talked-about matchup at UFC 273 than the highly-anticipated bantamweight championship rematch between Aljamain Sterling and Petr Yan.

It is a assembly a yr within the making following their controversial first encounter at UFC 259 in March 2021. Yan had been in management for a lot of that bout’s first three rounds, however within the fourth, he landed an illegal knee that left Sterling unable to continue.

Sterling turned the first fighter in UFC history to win a championship on a disqualification. Since then, there’s been main warmth between each events, with Sterling going through accusations of overplaying the harm left by the unlawful knee and being afraid to defend the championship.

The 2 had been initially set to rematch at UFC 267 in October, however Sterling withdrew from the bout as a result of neck points. Yan defeated Cory Sandhagen at that occasion to turn out to be interim bantamweight champion.

Who will win at UFC 273: Aljamain Sterling or Petr Yan?

Trying on the Story of the Tape, each are available with comparable heights, however Sterling could have a four-inch attain benefit. In keeping with FightMetrics, Yan has a greater strikes-landed-per-minute output but in addition has absorbed extra per minute. The placing accuracy and protection percentages, nevertheless, are fairly comparable. Each have the same takedown common over quarter-hour, however Yan’s accuracy and defenses percentages are above and past.

Let’s take a look at the larger image, nevertheless. For almost all of that first encounter, Yan was in control. Sterling could have landed extra strikes, however Yan landed an amazing majority of the numerous strikes. And it was no query when it got here to grappling; Yan landed all seven of his takedown makes an attempt, whereas Sterling was stuffed all however as soon as on his 17 tries on Yan.

Yan appeared like he was going to cruise to a call victory earlier than the unlawful knee landed. Now, was that Yan’s fault? Completely. He misplaced himself within the warmth of the struggle and obtained caught. However that’s not going to occur once more.

Sterling may clearly make enhancements between then and now, however that every one stays to be seen. It’s not good when persons are questioning if you’re even legitimately the champion in your division regardless of being so.

This doesn’t imply he can’t win, however Yan goes to wish to ship an announcement and proper the fallacious from final yr. And there’s quite a bit much less doubt in that finish.

Prediction: Yan through unanimous resolution