Petr Yan explains why he threw illegal kee

Former UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan was on a ten-fight win streak heading into his first title defense, vs. Aljamian Sterling at UFC 259 on Saturday night. The Russian appeared to be taking over the fight after a slow start, when he inexplicably landed a hard knee to the face of a downed Sterling, and was disqualified.

https://twitter.com/SpinninBackfist/status/1368428530711883778 https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1368427849997160460

Referee Mark Smith clearly told the fighters that Sterling was down. Yan’s English-speaking corner was yelling ‘Grounded … punches only.’ Cageside commentator Daniel Cormier said that his AKA teammate, UFC lightweight GOAT and Russian icon Khabib Nurmagomedov said that Yan’s Russian-speaking corner told him to kick.

https://twitter.com/espnmma/status/1368616240063844360

However, at the post-fight media conference, a subdued Yan explained what happened, and said that none of the corner advice was a factor.

I don’t know what to say, I know I made a mistake, said Yan in Russian, as translated by RT Sport, and transcribed by Ryan Harkness for MMA Mania. In no way was that intentional. I was focused on his hands. The referee told us about hand position and how to tell when a fighter is grounded. I was focused on his hands and when he raised them, I hit him.

Honestly, I didn’t understand what my cornermen were telling me. I was focused on his hands leaving the ground. The replay will likely show how he raised his hands. I didn’t see that his knees were down, I thought he was squatting.

Yan was asked how it felt to lose a fight that the judge’s scorecards had him up on via Split Decision.

It sucks, said Yan. I don’t think Aljamain will accept the belt in a fight like that. If he’s healthy I’ll be happy to do a rematch.

https://twitter.com/RTSportNews/status/1368530934627246088

Yan also apologized on his social network.

https://twitter.com/PetrYanUFC/status/1368436400220073986

Former division champion, the disgraced T.J. Dillashaw got his digs in.

https://twitter.com/TJDillashaw/status/1368434013636096000

UFC president Dana White said at the post-fight media conference that he was open to an immediate rematch.