Mar 6, 2021; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Petr Yan of Russia punches Aljamain Sterling in their UFC bantamweight championship fight during the UFC 259 event at UFC APEX on March 06, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari/Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports

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UFC Humor: Petr Yan Awards Former Foe An Oscar After Alleged Overreaction To Illegal Knee!

Petr Yan humorously gives Aljamain Sterling an Oscar after claiming he exaggerated his reaction to the illegal knee!

The UFC has seen its fair share of heated rivalries turn into unlikely friendships. From Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor’s intense feud to Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones’ legendary battles, the octagon often births both bitter enemies and eventual reconciliations. But few rivalries have had such a unique trajectory as the one between Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling.

Their story isn’t just about championships and glory, it is about how time can heal even the deepest wounds in combat sports. It also showcases how fighters can eventually laugh at their most controversial moments.

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The Controversial Knee That Changed Everything At Bantamweight

Back in 2021, the bantamweight division was on fire with talent, and these two warriors stood at its peak. Yan had claimed the vacant title by defeating the legendary Jose Aldo. In doing so, he established himself as one of the most technical strikers in the division. Sterling, meanwhile, had fought his way to the top with a unique blend of wrestling and unpredictable striking, earning his shot at UFC gold. Nobody could have predicted how their first encounter would end up becoming one of the most talked-about moments in UFC history.

The fight at UFC 259 started with both men showing their elite skills. Yan was gradually taking control with his precise striking and excellent defensive wrestling. As the fourth round was coming to a close, Sterling was down on his knees, a position that clearly marked him as a grounded opponent (not now, as the rules have been changed).

Petr Yan was DQ’d following the illegal knee to the head of Aljamain Sterling 🤯🤯🤯https://t.co/tpZxwNYwal
— Elite Media Group (@TheEliteMedia_) March 7, 2021

In a moment that would change both fighters’ careers, Petr Yan threw an illegal knee that connected with Sterling’s head. The impact left Sterling unable to continue, and for the first time in UFC history, a championship changed hands via disqualification. What followed was a storm of controversy, with many fans accusing Sterling of overselling the impact to win the title.

Burying The Hatchet With Style

Fast forward to 2025, and what a difference a few years can make. In a viral video that’s making waves across social media, Petr Yan playfully presented Sterling with an Oscar trophy. He was poking fun at the accusations of Sterling’s alleged overacting after the illegal knee.

Petr Yan reunites with Aljamain Sterling and hands him an “Oscar” 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/8epemDQHBn
— ACD MMA (@acdmma_) February 2, 2025

The moment showed how far both fighters have come from their heated rivalry. Sterling now competes at featherweight after a successful bantamweight title reign. He took the joke in stride, sharing a laugh with his former nemesis. This light-hearted interaction has caught the attention of fans worldwide. This is especially important given that the two will be working together as coaches on a Russian version of The Ultimate Fighter!

(Image Credit: Jeff Bottari – Imagn Images)

Aljamain Sterling

Petr Yan

UFC 259

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!