Petr Yan defeats Sandhagen in five round slugfest at UFC 267
The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to Fight Island today, Saturday, October 30, 2021, for UFC 267, the first non-PPV numbered event since UFC 138 back in November of 2011. That was six days shy of a decade ago..
Headlining the event is a light-heavyweight championship clash between Jan Blachowicz and No. 1 contender Glover Teixeira, while the co-main event will be contested in the bantamweight division, an interim title clash between No. 1 ranked former champion Petr Yan and No. 3 ranked Cory Sandhagen.
This could honestly be a vacant title fight.
Many people believe Yan to be better than our champion Aljamain Sterling, though he lost their bout via DQ, and many believe Sandhagen defeated TJ Dillashaw over the summer, though he lost via split decision.
Our feature fight of the night will be contested in the lightweight division between No. 5 ranked Islam Makhachev and No. 6 ranked Dan Hooker as well. This is the best free card ever put on by the UFC!
Petr Yan saw the bantamweight championship slip through his grips following a controversial disqualification in his last outing against Aljamain Sterling with a knee to the head of a downed opponent. Since that bout, Petr Yan has been eager to get back into the mix and in title contention where he belongs. While a rematch with Sterling seemed inevitable, Sterling is still sidelined due to the injury sustained in his bout with Yan. With top contender, Cory Sandhagen available to fill the void, Yan and Sandhagen will vie for the interim bantamweight championship.
Cory Sandhagen was surprising pick to step in for the interim belt considering he came up short in his last bout against T.J. Dillashaw. However, timing is everything and with Sandhagens availability and ranked status, this makes for an excellent matchup that could see Sandhagens stock skyrocket, pending a win.
Continue reading to see how this epic bantamweight encounter went down:
Round 1: Sandhagen circles early and feels out Yan with leg kicks early. Sandhagen is finding his success in his leg kicks as he uses them to set up his punches. Yan lands several hard left hands. Sandhagens utilizing his speed and range to pick his shots from the outside. Landing a flying knee to close the round, Sandhagen has established his pace early in this bout.
MyMMANews scores round 1 for Sandhagen. 10-9
Round 2: Yan puts pressure on Sandhagen early, blitzing forward with hard punches. Sandhagen settled in and returns fire. Both fighters are technically engaging in a kickboxing bout, respectively landing their own. Yan lands an elbow inside a clinch and starts to pick up his pace. Sandhagen attempts a shot that is stuffed by Yan as Yan continues to pick up the pace.
MyMMANews scores round 2 for Yan. 10-9
Round 3: Sandhagen jabs and moves, utilizing a peek-a-boo type/feint and pop-type of striking. Yan is landing the harder and more effective of the two but Sandhagen’s showing effectiveness with popping in and out and keeping range. Yan slows the pace but throws several punches and a body kick with vicious intent. Yan cleanly lands a spinning back-fist that sends Sandhagen crashing to the canvas. Yan pounces but Sandhagen regains his witts to make it to the end of the round.
MyMMANews scores round 3 for Yan. 10-9
Round 4: Yan picks up where he left off, picking away with pin-point strikes early in the round. Sandhagen circles and secures a takedown momentarily. Yan pops back up and gets back in Sandhagens face. Sandhagen looks for distance and continues to work from the outside, peppering his punches. Yan loads up, landing several bombs on his foe while Sandhagen peppers some punches to close round.
MyMMANews scores round 4 for Yan. 10-9
Round 5: Yan chases Sandhagen who is working behind his jab, early. Yan attempts a headkick that is blocked followed by a hard exchange of punches between the two. Sandhagen works behind his distance but Yan is doing a spectacular job closing the distance and landing the punches he needs to stay ahead.
MyMMANews scores round for Yan. 10-9
Official result: Petr Yan def. Cory Sandhagen via unanimous decision
