‘No Mercy’ wants another shot at the current UFC bantamweight champion following his win streak.
Petr Yan defeated Marcus McGhee in the co-main event of UFC Abu Dhabi to make it three wins in a row for the former champion.
The Russian had his momentum seriously derailed by a three-fight skid, though Yan only acknowledges his loss to Merab Dvalishvili as a true setback.
It has taken some time for the 32-year-old to work his way back into the title picture but he seems likely to be the next in line following the upcoming title fight.
Yan has already given his thoughts on Dvalishvili facing Cory Sandhagen at UFC 320 having previously faced both men inside the Octagon.
Petr Yan believes that he will be healthier and better prepared for a Merab Dvalishvili rematch
Petr Yan has had to do some serious rebuilding following his three-fight losing streak where he was beaten by some of the top names in the division.
Following his win over Deiveson Figueiredo last November, Merab Dvalishvili believed that his former opponent had done enough to earn a rematch.
Umar Nurmagomedov ended up getting the shot and while Yan had a case to be the next contender, fans weren’t rushing to see him face Dvalishvili for a second time after how their first meeting went.
In March of 2023, ‘The Machine’ won all five rounds in Las Vegas, securing 11 takedowns out of a staggering 49 total attempts.
Yan, who has spoken about the injuries he faced heading into that contest, revealed in his post-fight press conference at UFC Abu Dhabi why he believes their rematch will be different.
“First of all, I want to show up healthy and now I understand how I have to adjust my fight camp and prepare better for Merab. Now I know what to expect from him.”
Petr Yan offered to be the backup fighter for the UFC 320 co-main event
Petr Yan’s win over Marcus McGhee on July 26 was a classic performance from the former champion.
The first round was competitive before he started to turn it up in the later rounds, as is often the case with ‘No Mercy’.
Despite injuring his leg in the first round after his opponent checked a kick, Yan stated that he is still willing to be the backup fighter for Merab Dvalishvili’s clash with Cory Sandhagen on October 4.
He also said that while he would be happy to face either man in a rematch, he would prefer to have the opportunity to avenge his loss to Dvalishvili, having beaten Sandhagen in 2021.