Petr Yan Withdraws from UFC 256 Title Bout vs. Aljamain Sterling for Personal Reasons

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UFC 256 is down to one title fight once again.

Shortly after Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno agreed to square off for flyweight gold at the Dec. 12 event, multiple outlets confirmed that the scheduled 135-pound championship clash between reigning champ Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling will no longer take place on the card. MMA Island was first to report the news.

Yan reportedly withdrew from the event for personal reasons that are not injury related. The Las Vegas-based promotion is hoping to rebook Yan vs. Sterling for an event in February.

“Everything happens for a reason,” Sterling wrote on Twitter. “I hope everything is good with you and your family. [Petr Yan], we will settle our business when you can be 100 [percent] focused and ready to give the fans the best show we can. See you soon.”

Everything happens for a reason. I hope everything is good with you and your family .@PetrYanUFC We will settle our business when you can be 100% focused and ready to give the fans the best show we can.
See you soon.

— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) November 22, 2020

UFC 256 previously lost a women’s featherweight championship clash between Amanda Nunes and Megan Anderson when Anderson withdrew from the event. It now appears that UFC 256 will be headlined by the flyweight title tilt between Figueiredo and Moreno, with a lightweight bout pitting Tony Ferguson against Charles Oliveira slated for the co-main event.