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UFC 259 rocked by illegal knee disqualification in wild title card

A trio of title fights has started with major drama after a champion lost his belt in an illegal act that has rocked the UFC world.

Nic Savage and Andrew McMurtry
5 min read
March 7, 2021 - 6:34PM
Uros Medic of Serbia.
Uros Medic of Serbia.

The triple title main event on UFC 259 has delivered a dramatic finish with the bantamweight title decided by a stuning disqualification.

While the co-main event was a “non-event” with Amanda Nunes demolishing Aussie Megan Anderson, the main event went the distance with Jan Blachowicz retaining the light heavyweight title.

Watch UFC 259, Blachowicz v Adesanya and Nunes v Anderson on Foxtel’s Main Event, on Sunday 7 March at 2pm AEDT. ORDER NOW >

But Aljamain Sterling is the new UFC bantamweight champion after Petr Yan was disqualified with an illegal knee to the face, for the first time in UFC championship history.

Sterling had a great start, landing two flying knees in the first round before grappling up against the cage.

Once they broke out, Sterling was dropped to the canvas with a massive right hand straight out of the clinch, knocking Sterling to the ground.

The second round continued to be tights with the commentators blown away by the crazy pace for a five round fight.

But as the fight went on, Sterling was tiring after the crazy pace of the fight.

It led to the fourth round incident, when Yan kneed Sterling in the face and the fight was over.

The illegal knee that rocked the event.
The illegal knee that rocked the event.

While Yan appeared well ahead in the fight, ultimately he was up 29-28 with two judges, while Sterling had one judge 29-28.

The moment of madness appears to have cost him a title with the commentators calling it “100 per cent illegal” the second it happened.

“You can’t get more illegal than that,” Joe Rogan said.

Sterling was crying after the fight and reportedly told the doctor “I don’t want it to end like this”.

But Sterling was clearly shaky on his feet and needed to be helped up and out of the octagon.

He was disgusted with the belt, taking it off immediately belt and throwing it on the ground.

Sterling threw the belt on the ground.
Sterling threw the belt on the ground.

Speaking to Joe Rogan after the result, the commentator revealed to Sterling that Yan had asked his corner if he could hit the Jamaican and his corner said yes, ultimately costing him the belt.

Sterling was near inconsolable in the interview.

“Everything I worked for to this point and to have it f***ing go like that,” Sterling said. “I thought it was close, I thought I was down two rounds and that’s not that way I wanted to win. That's not the way I envisioned this. I just took the f***ing belt off. I tried to continue all f***ed up like that but I was in bad shape. The ref told him I was down but it was ‘f***ing bulls***. I understand there’s some heat, some bad blood but it’s all rivalry.”

Fans were mixed in the reaction with some even blaming Sterling for his reaction, while others were just in disbelief.

The other fights were much more by the book as Jan Blachowicz retained his light heavyweight title and handed Israel Adesanya his first loss in MMA.

Standing up, Adesanya looked much better and took it to the Polish star.

While he delivered a low blow in the second round, which took the win out of Jan Blachowicz which stopped the fight momentarily, but while the pair were slugging it out.

Many believing the first two or three rounds were close.

But Blachowicz began to grapple with Adesanya and the New Zealander looked somewhat uncomfortable at close quarters.

It was most clearly shown in the fourth round when Blachowicz grappled the entire round and he repeated the dosage in the fifth.

But many were surprised by the lopsided result with Blachowicz taking a 49-45, 49-45 and 49-46 result on the scorecard.

It was a crazy quick finish to the women’s featherweight title with Amanda Nunes destroying Megan Anderson within the first round.

Nunes hit Anderson with a couple of strikes but then submitted her with an armbar, clearing out the division.

Joe Rogan called the fight “a non event” as it was over so quickly.

‘BEST CARD EVER’ DOESN’T DISAPPOINT

The main card kicked off with Aleksandr Rakic beating Thiago Santos in a unanimous decision in one of the more reserved fights of the night.

With both fighters stood back and didn’t go for a big shot with Rakic getting a majority of the love online.

Joe Rogan called it “disappointingly underwhelming” as there were few big moments and neither man was all that impressive especially with Blanchowicz and Adesanya fighting for light heavyweight supremacy.

The second fight of the main card before the title fights, Drew Dober and Islam Makhachev battled it out with the Russian showing his grappling expertise.

Before the fight, Joe Rogan said “I think Drew Dober is the most underrated guy in the sport”.

But he was hardly given a chance to breathe by Makhachev, who tapped him out in the third round with Dober never even given a chance.

“I deserve, years ago, someone from the top 5. Now I cannot be quiet,” Makhachev said. “Give me somebody.”

The anticipation for the main card was palpable after a brilliant undercard.

UFC MARRED BY ‘UGLY’ IN-CAGE ACCUSATION

An “ugly” conversation between two competitors during a prelim fight was picked up by the mics at UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Because there are no screaming crowds in attendance for UFC events due to coronavirus protocols, viewers can hear a lot more from fighters in the Octagon.

And there was plenty of reaction after flyweight Tim Elliott bluntly accused American rival Jordan Espinosa of being a “woman beater”.

Elliott said: “I heard you choked a girl in 2018. Are you a woman beater? Are you a f***ing woman beater?”

Espinosa responded: “You don’t know the full story.”

Elliott replied: “I know enough.”

Espinosa chirped back: “You don’t know s**t.”

Post-fight, Espinosa denied the accusations and, as reported by Yahoo Sports, there are no court or police records implicating Espinosa.

UFC commentator Daniel Cormier said: “Wow, that’s ugly. There were some ugly words being spoken down there between these two.”

Elliott eventually secured a victory from their three-round bout via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 30-25), registering over 10 minutes of ground control.

Sports journalist Andrews Hale tweeted: “Imagine getting your ass whooped in a fight while being exposed as a woman beater. Can’t lose any worse than that.”

MAIN CARD (approx. 2pm AEDT)

Jan Blachowicz defeated Israel Adesanya, light heavyweight championship — unanimous decision (49-46, 49-45, 49-45)

Amanda Nunes defeated Megan Anderson, women’s featherweight championship — submission (armbar), R1, 2:03

Aljamain Sterling defeated Petr Yan, bantamweight championship — disqualification (illegal knee)

Islam Makhachev defeated Drew Dober, lightweight — submission (arm triangle), R3, 1.37

Aleksandar Rakic defeated Thiago Santos, light heavyweight — unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

PRELIMS

Dominick Cruz defeated Casey Kenney, bantamweight — split decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29)

Kyler Phillips defeated Song Yadong, bantamweight — unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

Askar Askarov defeated Joseph Benavidez, flyweight — unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 30-26)

Kai Kara France defeated Rogerio Bontorin, flyweight — TKO (R1 4:55)

EARLY PRELIMS

Tim Elliott defeated Jordan Espinosa, flyweight — unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 30-25)

Kennedy Nzechukwu defeated Carlos Ulberg, light heavyweight — TKO (R2, 3:19)

Sean Brady defeated Jake Matthews, welterweight — submission (R3, 3:28)

Amanda Lemos defeated Livinha Souza, women’s strawweight — TKO (R1, 3:39)

Uros Medic defeated Aalon Cruz, lightweight — TKO (R1, 1:40)

Trevin Jones defeated Mario Bautista, bantamweight — TKO (R2, 0:47)

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