Russia’s Yan and UFC rival delight fans with show of respect (VIDEO)

Bantamweight rivals Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling shook hands in the UAE ahead of UFC 280

UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling has suggested he could meet Petr Yan in a trilogy bout, after the American bumped into the Russian in the UAE and the pair made a display of mutual respect. 

The two rivals have already faced off on a pair of occasions. At UFC 259 in March last year, Sterling was handed the 135lb title after Yan was controversially disqualified for an illegal knee strike.

The months between the two meetings saw Sterling accuse Yan of doping, while the Russian claimed that Sterling had feigned injury to win the title.

Yan also suggested that Sterling was reluctant to face him again and overexaggerated the extent of a neck problem that resulted in him requiring surgery.

In a long-awaited rematch at UFC 273 in April that went the distance, Sterling won a split decision with many MMA fans and even UFC president Dana White taking issue with some of the scoring. 

READ MORE: Yan claims he was robbed in close UFC title fight (VIDEO)

Six months later, the two fighters seem to have finally put their beef to one side.

As shown in a short video clip shared by Sterling on his Twitter account, they bumped into one another in Abu Dhabi in the build-up to UFC 280 and shook hands. 

Yan appeared to ask Sterling when he had touched down in the UAE. 

Trilogy