(Reuters) - UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling will undergo surgery for a neck issue he has been dealing with for nearly a decade and hopes to return to action before the end of the year, ESPN reported https://www.espn.in/mma/story/_/id/31225696/ufc-bantamweight-champion-aljamain-sterling-neck-surgery. American Sterling became the first UFC fighter to be crowned champion via disqualification when Petr Yan lost due to an illegal knee in the bantamweight title bout last month. ESPN said that UFC were keen to book a rematch between Yan and Sterling as soon as possible. Physicians "told me I will heal in three months and can start doing cardio to get myself ready," ESPN quoted Sterling as saying. "They wouldn't want to see me take a fight until they see everything has fused in my neck correctly.

Source: The Star April 10, 2021 06:11 UTC