Well, to be honest I'm quite happy for Sterling. I didn't like the way Yan was speaking in the build up, and he seemed way to aggressive loading up on his shots, not usually like him. While I did think Yan would win, Sterling came in much smarter. He conserved his gas tank, and that pretty much set it up for him. He did lose some of it in the later rounds, and I think that's why he had something silly like 22/23 take down attempts, and only a few actually materialised. However, that round 2 I think it was I potentially had down as a 10-8 round, and ultimately I think that's why Sterling just stole it. He was dominated, and was threatening all round while Yan pretty much had to fight hands the entire round.
Really gutted for Korean Zombie, totally outclassed on the night. I don't think he's ever getting that belt. I must say though, the two fighters have the best walk out songs of any fight I've seen. I love the Cranberries, and the down under song is proper catchy.
^ I was also wondering why Chimaev stopped with the TD after Burns defended well in R1. Maybe he wants to prove a point he could KO him with his striking?
R2 was a real treat and Burns won that one. I think he's lucky not to have been penalized for strikes at the back of the head towards the end of the round (right before he was taken down).
R3, I think, was Chimaev's. He was pushing forward and throwing/landing more punches.
I haven't seen the official strikes on the third round, but Chimaev probably did get the most landed, although by far Burns had the more significant strikes in that round. I mean it felt like there was like 5/6 massive ones in a row that backed up Chimaev from one side of the octagon to the other. So, I think there's an argument both ways.
The decision definitely wasn't a robbery, and it could have easily gone Burn's way it was that close of a fight.