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#4. Former UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan
A trilogy bout could be inevitable despite having two wins over former UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan. When considering what transpired in the first bout, one could argue that the two are equal. ‘No Mercy’ was getting the better of Sterling until the illegal knee in their first encounter.
In their rematch this past Saturday, ‘Funk Master’ won a close split decision that could’ve gone either way. If Yan defeats a couple of top contenders decisively, it will make a strong case for a trilogy bout. It would give Sterling another opportunity to finish Yan and leave no doubt who the better fighter is.
During his post-event press conference, Dana White mentioned that he felt ‘No Mercy’ won three rounds. But he added that the trilogy isn’t something he’s interested in booking immediately. The fight will always be there, and if it’s not a title fight, it could still serve as a future headliner.
#3. Former UFC two-division champion Henry Cejudo
Although he didn’t fight at UFC 273, Henry Cejudo still made headlines following the event. The former two-division champion tweeted that he intends to re-enter the USADA testing pool and return to the octagon.
Since retiring in 2020, Cejudo has made it clear that he aspires to become the promotion’s first three-division champion. If he doesn’t get a featherweight title shot, he should immediately be in the mix for a bantamweight title shot. ‘Triple C’ never lost the title, and the idea of him regaining the title after a two-year hiatus would be intriguing.
It’d be interesting to see whether Sterling can succeed with his grappling against the former Olympic Gold medalist. Cejudo would clearly have the advantage in wrestling, but he was successful with his striking in his most recent bouts. Prior to his retirement, ‘Triple C’ had won six straight bouts, with the final three coming via TKO.
