Aljamain Sterling wins bantamweight title in historic disqualification

Sportsnet Staff March 7, 2021, 12:49 AM

UFC bantamweight fighter Aljamain Sterling certainly wanted to make history in his title fight at UFC 259 on Saturday. Just not like this.

After sustaining an illegal, intentional knee to the head from incumbent champion Petr Yan, Sterling was awarded the bantamweight belt by disqualification. That marked the first time ever that a title change has occurred as a result of a disqualification. Also, some controversy existed post-fight about whether Yan had received instruction from his corner to deliver the knee strike.

Naturally, UFC media, fans and other observers weighed in on Twitter after this eventful, historic bout.

Petr Yan gets DQ'd after his illegal knee to Aljamain Sterlingpic.twitter.com/QldJgWZE5W

— The Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) March 7, 2021

Due to an intentional foul, Aljamain Sterling is the new bantamweight champion.

: @ufc | #UFC259 pic.twitter.com/kW3uZF4Ufb

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 7, 2021

I apologize and wish speedy recovery to @funkmasterMMA I didn’t mean to throw an illegal strike, I just made a big mistake and paid for it.

— Petr “No Mercy” Yan (@PetrYanUFC) March 7, 2021

I’ve been watching MMA for nearly 20 years. That’s one of the craziest things I’ve ever seen.

— Sid Seixeiro (@Sid_Seixeiro) March 7, 2021

Petr Yan's corner as they're telling him to knee Sterling in the head#UFC259 pic.twitter.com/rRbriTLFGj

— Alex (@Alex_Fitz19) March 7, 2021

Sterling right now pic.twitter.com/c5iCLF8yfc

— (@MercurialManc) March 7, 2021

I was thinking here, that maybe it was Sterling cornerman who told Yan that was a legal strike!@MMARoasted what do you think? #UFC259

— Herbert Burns (@HerbertBurnsMMA) March 7, 2021

Sterling says he wanted to continue, but he was "in bad shape." Says if he were to continue it would have been his ego taking over #UFC259

— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) March 7, 2021

Illegal as it gets #UFC259

— Max Griffin (@MaxPainGriffin) March 7, 2021

You should never have to ask your corner the rules mid fight…. #UFC259

— Stephen Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) March 7, 2021

Feel for @funkmasterMMA I couldn’t accept that belt that way either…feel for you brother! All heart man! #UFC259

— Stephen Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) March 7, 2021

Bro you can see it on his face that’s not how he wanted the belt

— Ethan Robert simmes (@Ethan_simmes) 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

Wow new champ #UFC259 at bantamweight .ok… pretty bad illegal knee

— Raphael Assuncao (@RaphaAssuncao) March 7, 2021

I feel awful for Aljo. Nobody, nobody wants to win a fight like this. No way.

— Lauren Murphy (@LaurenMurphyMMA) March 7, 2021

They have to run this back!!#UFC259

— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) 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