Dana White talks about Aljamain Sterling's injury and explains decision for interim bantamweight belt

D. White at a UFC press conference. Photo: Reproduction/YouTube UFC

Last Saturday (25), aljamain sterling left the fight against Petr yan by the linear title in UFC 267 after an injury and, soon after, Ultimate acted quickly to replace him with Cory Sandhagen. When asked about the matter, Dana White stated that the interim bantamweight belt (up to 61,2kg) made sense, as the Russian is ready to return to action.

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“We had to make the provisional title. If you look at how that fight (with Sterling in the UFC 259) is over, Yan is ready to go. Sterling doesn't know when he will be ready, and when his leg will be good. He also still doesn't know when he will get the go-ahead from doctors. So, an interim title makes sense,” said White, in a post-Contender Series press conference.

The fight even pits two athletes who are coming off defeats to compete for the organization's title. Petr yan, who was the lineal champion, was disqualified after landing an illegal knee and lost his belt to aljamain sterling No. UFC 259, but Cory Sandhagen ended up being surpassed by TJ Dillashaw in the split decision of the judges, in a duel balanced by the UFC Las Vegas 32.

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