UFC 259 might have witnessed Aljamain Sterling being crowned bantamweight champion, but it was anything but a bonafide coronation in the Octagon on Saturday night. Instead, it was a familiar, lamentable tune MMA fans have heard time and time again.
Amidst a championship tripleheader, for many, no bout was more anticipated than the much-awaited showdown between Sterling and Petr Yan. By now, you know the story: up on the scorecards with five and a half minutes left, the increasingly dominant Yan flagrantly and mindbogglingly drilled Sterling with a knee that left him splayed out. Referee Mark Smith, who clearly and vocally announced Sterling was a downed opponent, conferred with the ringside physician, and called the bout.