What's Next for Petr Yan After Impressive Victory at UFC Macau Main Event?17 days ago
Petr Yan’s dominant performance against Deiveson Figueiredo has reignited his championship aspirations in the UFC’s bantamweight division. Following his unanimous decision victory at UFC Macau, Yan is now poised for a high-stakes matchup to solidify his standing as a title contender. Three potential opponents loom large for Yan’s next fight:

Merab Dvalishvili

Merab Dvalishvili is the reigning UFC Bantamweight Champion and has already defeated Yan in the past. A rematch would provide Yan with a chance to reclaim his position at the top while settling the score. Merab’s relentless pace and grappling prowess make him a formidable challenge, but Yan’s improved strategy could make this an intriguing bout.

1. Win - Sean O'Malley - Decision (unanimous) - UFC 306 (Sep 14, 2024) - Won UFC Bantamweight Championship
2. Win - Henry Cejudo - Decision (unanimous) - UFC 298 (Feb 17, 2024)
3. Win - Petr Yan - Decision (unanimous) - UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Dvalishvili (Mar 11, 2023)
4. Win - José Aldo - Decision (unanimous) - UFC 278 (Aug 20, 2022)
5. Win - Marlon Moraes - TKO (punches) - UFC 266 (Sep 25, 2021)

Sean O'Malley

The flashy and former champion Sean O'Malley offers another tantalizing matchup for Yan. Their previous fight at UFC 280 ended in a controversial split decision favoring O’Malley. A rematch would settle any lingering doubts and provide a striking spectacle for the fans.

1. Loss - Merab Dvalishvili - Decision (unanimous) - UFC 306 (Sep 14, 2024)
2. Win - Marlon Vera - Decision (unanimous) - UFC 299 (Mar 9, 2024)
3. Win - Aljamain Sterling - TKO (punches) - UFC 292 (Aug 19, 2023) - Won UFC Bantamweight Championship
4. Win - Petr Yan - Decision (split) - UFC 280 (Oct 22, 2022)
5. NC - Pedro Munhoz - NC (accidental eye poke) - UFC 276 (Jul 2, 2022)

Umar Nurmagomedov

Umar Nurmagomedov is an undefeated rising star who recently won a title eliminator bout against Cory Sandhagen. A matchup between Yan and Umar would be a technical masterclass in striking and grappling, offering the division fresh energy and an opportunity for Yan to test himself against the Dagestani’s undefeated record.

1. Win - Cory Sandhagen - Decision (unanimous) - UFC on ABC: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov (Aug 3, 2024) - Bantamweight title eliminator
2. Win - Bekzat Almakhan - Decision (unanimous) - UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Gaziev (Mar 2, 2024)
3. Win - Raoni Barcelos - KO (body kick and punch) - UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Imavov (Jan 14, 2023)
4. Win - Nate Maness - Decision (unanimous) - UFC on ESPN: Tsarukyan vs. Gamrot (Jun 25, 2022)
5. Win - Brian Kelleher - Submission (rear-naked choke) - UFC 272 (Mar 5, 2022)