Aljamain Sterling is the UFC bantamweight champion, but it’s not the manner in which he’d want to claim gold.
At UFC 259, Sterling went at Petr Yan like a bat out of hell for the first two rounds, but after a while Yan began beating the challenger to the punch and Sterling’s offence rapidly dropped to the point where Yan began pulling ahead. Then, in the fourth round, Yan landed a ridiculously illegal knee to a Sterling, who was classified as a downed opponent, with one knee on the canvas.
After a few minutes, Sterling was ruled unable to continue, and therefore was proclaimed world champion. Check out what some of their colleagues had to say:
Due to an intentional foul, @FunkMasterMMA is the new bantamweight champion. #UFC259 pic.twitter.com/AlNLboFIlr
— UFC (@ufc) March 7, 2021
Ok that’s too much 🤦🏿♂️
— KAMARU USMAN (@USMAN84kg) March 7, 2021
This call should never be on the fighter. Plain and simple. With a shot like that it’s over. Doc does his job walks in and it’s over.
— Justin Gaethje 🇺🇸 (@Justin_Gaethje) March 7, 2021
Take the win @funkmasterMMA !!
— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) March 7, 2021
Stay down, take the win 💰 😂 #ufc259
— BONY (@JonnyBones) March 7, 2021
Aljo FTW 😂
— Dominick Reyes (@DomReyes) March 7, 2021
Aljo is tough as nails….man….this is crazy #UFC259
— Stephen Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) March 7, 2021
Aljamain came in great shape, he fought forward every second of that fight, not his fault he got illegally kneed. Congratulations Champion, you did it
— BONY (@JonnyBones) March 7, 2021
For the record, I know for a fact that Petr Yan is NOT a dirty fighter. He was trying to score offense from all positions the whole fight and he listened to his corner in that scenario. Such an unfortunate situation for both men. #UFC259
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) March 7, 2021
That was very illegal, it doesn’t get much worse than that. Yan was already flirting with danger by throwing those axe kicks when Aljo was down. The doctors made the right call, you can’t let the fighter make the decision to continue after taking a shot like that. #UFC259
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) March 7, 2021
And the Oscar goes to @FakeMaster for Best Actor in a Title Fight and Petr Yan needs a crash course in the rules of the sport he was once champion in. Hey Petr now you’re a cheater too, bitch.
— TJ Dillashaw (@TJDillashaw) March 7, 2021
Nominated for an Oscar this year are:
Robert de niro
Leonardo dicaprio
Margot Robbie
Aljamain Sterling #UFC259— karen Till (@darrentill2) March 7, 2021
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