No title shot for Frankie Edgar, paving the way for Sterling vs. Yan

Dana White was far more nebulous than a magic 8-ball right after UFC on ESPN 15 when it came to fight announcements. Eschewing any sound ‘Yes’ for the most component, we acquired a good deal of ‘Probably’ and ‘Most Likely’ solutions all through Saturday’s publish-occasion press meeting. ‘Probably’ when it came to Tony Ferguson vs. Dustion Poirier, and then ‘Most Likely’ when it arrived to Petr Yan’s up coming bantamweight title challenger.

Regretably for Frankie Edgar, it is not gonna be him centered on his gutsy break up conclusion gain in excess of Pedro Munhoz in the most important function (enjoy the highlights below).

“There’s some items that have to enjoy out and there is people today ahead of him,” White stated. “He place on a fantastic showing tonight and put himself in a fantastic posture, but … he’s bought some function to do there … Two [more fights] or 1, we do not know, it is dependent on who he fights subsequent.”

Which is incredibly good news for Aljamain Sterling, who has been the consensus #1 contender at bantamweight in accordance to fairly a great deal every person BUT White. Just after weeks of waffling and ‘Ask Again Later’ responses, the UFC president lastly gave Sterling his because of.

“It’s far more than likely going to be Sterling,” he advised Heidi Androl on the ESPN+ post-display.

A extremely delighted sounding Sterling took to Twitter to rejoice that gentle acknowledgement.

Of program, all of this is contingent on the UFC becoming in a position to get Yan and Sterling to sign on the dotted line. We’re positive Yan’s management almost certainly want a additional bankable name that isn’t likely to drag him to the mat and dominate him with wrestling. And we’re positive Sterling needs to get compensated, a thing the UFC is amazingly reluctant to do when it comes to lower body weight contenders (illustration: Henry Cejudo getting a pay out minimize to rematch Demetrious Johnson).

Let’s hope the UFC manages to put the items collectively, cuz this would be just one hell of an conclusion of year scrap.