Petr Yan-Cory Sandhagen Interim Bantamweight Title Bout Set for UFC 267

With Aljamain Sterling still on the mend from neck surgery, an interim bantamweight championship bout has been booked for UFC 267.

UFC president Dana White informed broadcast partner ESPN on Tuesday that Petr Yan will square off against Cory Sandhagen for the interim 135-pound crown on Oct. 30 in Abu Dhabi. Yan was supposed to face Sterling in a title rematch after being disqualified for landing an illegal knee in their first meeting at UFC 261. The Yan-Sandhagen winner will presumably be booked in a title unification bout against Sterling at some point in 2022.

Yan had a 10-fight professional winning streak snapped in the loss to Sterling. The 28-year-old Russian known as “No Mercy” was victorious in his first seven UFC appearances, posting notable triumphs against the likes of Aldo, Urijah Faber, Rivera and John Dodson.

Sandhagen, meanwhile, is coming off a contentious split-decision loss to former champ T.J. Dillashaw in the UFC on ESPN 27 headliner on July 24. Prior to that, the Elevation Fight Team member scored back-to-back highlight reel knockouts of Marlon Moraes and Frankie Edgar.

UFC 267 takes place at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi and is headlined by a light heavyweight championship clash between Jan Blachowicz and Glover Teixeira.