UCF president Dana White has confirmed what many fans had already expected; Aljamain Sterling will be in line to fight for the UFC bantamweight belt. ESPN reports that Sterling will face Yan in the co-main event of UFC 256 on December 12.
It will be Yan's first bantamweight title defense since he won the vacant belt by knocking out Jose Aldo in the fifth round of their July title fight at UFC 251. The title was vacated earlier this year when Henry Cejudo announced his retirement from the sport. Many questioned the UFC's decision to have Aldo jump the line of bantamweight contenders, including Sterling.
Despite getting passed over for the initial title fight, Sterling seems grateful for his opportunity now.
"Thank you Dana," he wrote on Twitter. "All I can ask for is the opportunity from the fruits of my labor. December 12th will be a night I will never forget!"
has won five-stright fights since suffering a first-round knockout loss to former champion Marlon Moraes in December 2017. His win streak includes victories over Brett Johns, Cody Stamman, Jimmie Rivera, Pedro Munhoz, and most recently Cory Sandhagen.
Yan (15-1) boasts his own impressive resume. He's 7-0 in the UFC with four finishes.
UFC 256 will also be headlined by a female feathrweight bout betwen Amanda Nunes (20-4) and Megan Anderson (10-4). It will be the UFC's final pay-per-view event of the year.