UFC 273 LIVE results: Volkanovski vs Korean Zombie latest updates
Re-live updates from a stacked card, where two title fights followed Khamzat Chimaev vs Gilbert Burns
Rising star Khamzat Chimaev stayed unbeaten with a split-decision win against Gilbert Burns at UFC 273 on Saturday.
Chimaev (11-0) had won his previous 10 fights via finish, absorbing just one significant strike across four UFC bouts prior to his welterweight meeting with former title challenger Burns in Jacksonville, Florida. And, while the Russian-born Swede lived up to the hype in beating the No 2-ranked 170lbs fighter in the UFC, he did not run through Burns (20-5) as some had predicted. Both men dropped one another and took each other down in a wildly entertaining fight that had the fans captivated from start to finish, with Chimaev, 28, eventually edging past the Brazilian via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28).
After that highly-anticipated bout, the co-main event saw Aljamain Sterling unify the men’s bantamweight belts against Petr Yan. Jamaican-American Sterling won the title from Yan last year when the Russian was disqualified for landing an illegal knee in a fight that he looked on course to win. Yan (16-3) went on to win the interim belt late last year while Sterling (21-3) recovered from neck surgery, and their rematch at UFC 273 was fuelled by bad blood.
Many fans expected Yan to ease past Sterling, but a highly-competitive fight saw Sterling dominate his rival on the canvas in the second and third rounds, before the Russian came on strong in the final two frames – as he so often does. It all came down to a close first round, and Sterling got the nod 48-47, 47-48, 48-47. In the main event, Alexander Volkanovski put on a clinic to retain the men’s featherweight title, stopping the “Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung in the fourth round as referee Herb Dean stepped in with the challenger out on his feet.
Australian Volkanovski (24-1) had dropped Sung Jung (17-7) numerous times throughout the contest, proving too fast and slick for the 35-year-old veteran. Re-live updates from the UFC 273 main card and prelims, below.
UFC 273 LIVE
Sterling vs Yan – Round 3
Sterling is still seeking a rear naked choke. This must be so frustrating for Yan.
Sterling is closing in on seven minutes of control time.
The first round was close, but Sterling easily won the second and is about to seal the third.
The buzzer goes.
UFC 273 LIVE
Sterling vs Yan – Round 3
Yan defends a takedown and the bantamweights trade knees in the clinch.
This time Sterling gets the takedown, against the fence! He immediately takes the back and gets a body triangle again!
Sterling is laughing as he punches Yan.
UFC 273 LIVE
Sterling vs Yan – Round 2
Yan survives the round.
“Aljo, look at him, look at the motherf*****!”
Yan is looking tired on his stool. Sterling is walking around the ring.
UFC 273 LIVE
Sterling vs Yan – Round 2
Sterling is forcing Yan to think about choke attempts but is also throwing punches to the head and body.
The crowd is booing, but I don’t know why; Sterling is working.
Yan lands his own punches from above, but Sterling is closing in on the choke now...
He can’t quite get it but flattens out Yan and lands some decent punches!
Yan twists, but Sterling is completely in control.
UFC 273 LIVE
Sterling vs Yan – Round 2
That was a close first round, with Yan pressuring but Sterling landing the better shots.
Yan mistimes a kick and Sterling forces him to the mat!
Sterling quickly gets into mount, before taking the back. He has a body triangle and is trying for a choke...
We never saw the pair in this position in their first fight...
UFC 273 LIVE
Sterling vs Yan – Round 1
Both men throw punches so hard that they lose balance. Neither lands.
Yan is still pressing forward, forcing Sterling to keep thinking. The champion switches stances to try to keep Yan guessing, too.
Yan defends another takedown attempt and the pair trade heavy hooks to end the round.
UFC 273 LIVE
Sterling vs Yan – Round 1
No touch of gloves, no surprise.
Yan presses forward early. Body kick lands for Sterling.
Sterling shoots for a takedown, but Yan sprawls well to deny the champion. Yan then throws a body kick. Sterling responds in kind.
Yan catches a body kick this time. He throws his own. The pair are trading that attack frequently.
UFC 273 LIVE
Most fans expect Yan to get the win here, perhaps in more dominant fashion than he was on course to in the rivals’ first meeting.
But can Sterling learn from his mistakes from that fight and win here by making adjustments? We’re about to find out...
UFC 273 LIVE
Yan (16-2) lost the men’s bantamweight title to Aljamain Sterling (20-3) via DQ due to an illegal knee last year.
Sterling started that fight well but could not keep up the pace, and Yan pulled ahead as he tends to – until the illegal strike.
Since then, Jamaican-American Sterling has been recovering from neck surgery, while Yan claimed the interim title by outpointing Cory Sandhagen in October. That clash was a fight of the year contender in 2021.
UFC 273 LIVE
Both men proved something there. Chimaev proved he belongs at the top of the division alongside the best welterweights on the planet, and Burns simultaneously showed that he is still one of that group.
A terrific fight. Respect to both combatants.
Next up, it’s another huge bout... Aljamain Sterling vs Petr Yan 2!
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