Yan will fight anyone to get hands on belt

He lost his outing in March.

Petr Yan is feeling rather relaxed heading to the octagon in Abu Dhabi for UFC 267.

The 28-year-old former bantamweight champion of the world doesn’t care who he faces in the cage as long as he gets his hands back on the belt which he lost to Alijamain Sterling in a disqualification loss in March.

He said: “My goal was to win the belt and it doesn’t matter who is standing across from me.”

Saturday was supposed to be Yan’s chance to avenge that defeat, however, the American has pulled out of the bout to get surgery on a niggling neck problem that has discomforted the current world champion for some time.

However, Yan is sceptical.

““Sterling needs the rematch to prove he can do something. I am not interested in the rematch if I win the belt this Saturday.

“As you know he ran away. He could have got his surgery. He has had this injury for 10 years, but ran away.”

The No Mercy fighter believes that his opponent, Corey Sandhagen, deserves his shot at glory, but the Russian says he will put on a clinic at Etihad Arena this Saturday night.

“He is a well deserving opponent who is versatile and good everywhere,” he said. “In the fight I just want to showcase in which aspects I am better than him.

“Everything is great. I am feeling very good.”

 

Tickets are still available through Ticketmaster UAE and Etihad Arena with prices starting from AED 495.

 

For all the sports news in Abu Dhabi, visit Yalla – Abu Dhabi Life

 

Image source provided

Matt Cassidy

When he is not hunting for the latest piece of Abu Dhabi news, Matt is ticking off his UAE bucket-list experiences (although he does love to take a break to test out the fine restaurants and bars of the capital). An armchair sports lover, he is on a personal mission to attend every sporting event in the UAE to make out for most likely missing the big one in Doha in November.