After a few hiccups getting the next UFC bantamweight championship fight in the octagon, Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling finally have a new date.
Two people with knowledge of the situation told MMA Junkie on Thursday that contracts have been signed with Yan (15-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) and Sterling (19-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC) for the event UFC March 259, elevating the wrestling card to three championship fights.
People asked for anonymity because the UFC has not yet made any official announcement.
UFC 259 will take place on March 6th. No location or location has been disclosed, but the main card is issued on pay-per-view after ESPN and ESPN + forecasts.
Yan has prepared a brilliant undefeated career in the UFC so far, defeating all the enemies that have been before him. After Henry Cejudo left the 135-pound title earlier this year, Yan claimed the vacant belt against Jose Aldo in UFC 251 last July.
He was supposed to defend his first title at UFC 256 in December, but was forced to retire due to personal issues.
Sterling, 31, won his title with a streak of five fights and wins in seven of his last eight fights overall. It comes out of a quick presentation of Cory Sandhagen’s first round at the UFC 250 in June.
The latest UFC 259 wrestling card now includes:
Jan Blachowicz v. Israel Adesanya – for light heavyweight title Amanda Nunes vs. Megan Anderson – for women’s featherweight title Petr Yan vs. Aljamain Sterling – for bantamweight title Aleksandar Rakic vs. Thiago Santos Dominick Cruz vs. Casey Kenney Drew Dober vs. Islam Makhachev Askar Askarov vs. Joseph Benavidez Sean Brady vs. Jake Matthews Randy Costa vs. Trevin Jones Aalon Cruz vs. Uros Medic Tim Elliott vs. Jordan Espinosa