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Yan didn’t carry the Russian flag into the cage when he confronted bitter rival Aljamain Sterling in Florida final month
UFC star Petr Yan says he didn’t seem with the Russian flag at his title rematch with Aljamain Sterling within the US final month as a result of he didn’t wish to “provoke” the group.
Yan and bitter rival Sterling clashed for a second time after they met at UFC 273 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Area in Jacksonville on April 9.
The showdown was a re-run of the pair’s contentious assembly of 12 months beforehand, when Yan misplaced his bantamweight title after touchdown an unlawful knee strike on his rival.
In Florida it was Sterling who once more had his hand raised after the Jamaican-American shaded victory on the scorecards in a consequence that some – together with UFC boss Dana White – referred to as into query.
A notable distinction to Yan’s earlier visits to the Octagon was the absence of the Russian flag, which he often proudly parades earlier than and after fights.
Amid the backdrop of the battle in Ukraine, Yan defined to reporters in Russia on Friday why he had not flown the tricolor on this event.
“Earlier than our match it already wasn’t allowed to exit with flags,” stated Yan, based on Match TV.
“Though nobody stated they forbid it. If you happen to bear in mind the earlier tournaments, there have been conditions when folks within the crowd whistled.
“We did it in order to not provoke folks or the general public. Everybody is aware of the place I’m from. We simply averted a provocative second.”
The UFC has allowed its steady of Russian fighters to proceed to compete freely, though there was no official assertion on its flag coverage.
Yan had confronted points forward of the combat when members of his nook group had been reportedly denied US visas.
The Florida defeat for ‘No Mercy’ was a tricky one to take, not least due to the back-and-forth he has engaged in with Sterling on-line for interval that their rivalry has been simmering.
The Siberian star stated he nonetheless doesn’t take into account Sterling to be the authentic ruler of the UFC’s 135lbs ranks.
“I do not see him as champion. I had two fights with him. I wouldn’t say that he did one thing champion-like both within the first or within the second combat.
“Sure, he stated earlier than the combat that this may be the most important theft. And so it occurred.
“Nicely carried out to him, he believes in his power and visualizes it. However I nonetheless can’t take into account him a champion. Perhaps I’ll arrive at this later.”
Yan, whose losses to Sterling are the one blemishes in his 10-fight UFC profession, joked that there was “nonetheless one thing clownish” about his rival, however “it’s not dangerous – clowns are additionally humorous.”
Consideration has turned to what comes subsequent for Yan as he seeks to recapture the UFC gold he initially received by defeating Brazilian legend Jose Aldo at UFC 251 in Abu Dhabi the summer season of 2020.
Yan, 29, revealed he has 5 fights left on his present UFC deal, with names reminiscent of former two-weight champion Henry Cejudo being touted because the American claims to be gearing up for a return from retirement.
“Since he determined to return and obtained into the [USADA] testing pool, it implies that one thing is deliberate,” stated Yan of the person with whom he has traded on-line barbs.
“Everyone knows why he does it [writes to me]. It’s only a easy [online] skirmish. There’s nothing private. It doesn’t matter if he’s within the prime 5. If he needs, we will combat.”
Yan confused that the precedence for his subsequent contest could be somebody from the bantamweight prime 5, admitting that Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera – who defeated Rob Font final weekend for a 3rd win on the spin – could be “attention-grabbing.”
“He’s harmful, it will be attention-grabbing for me to combat him,” stated Yan.
Former champion TJ Dillashaw, now returned from a doping ban, would even be a draw for the Russian, though the American has engaged in a public callout with Sterling in latest weeks, stoking discuss of a showdown.
“Something is feasible. However I am extra inclined that Dillashaw will win,” stated Yan when requested who would prevail in a match-up between Sterling and Dillashaw.
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