UFC Interim Bantamweight Champion Petr “No Mercy” Yan is one of the most lethal strikers in UFC history. The 29 year old Russian will return to the Octagon in April at UFC 273 in a title Unification bout rematch with Aljamain Sterling. These two 135 pounders do not like each other so it’ll be good to see them fight it out in this classic striker vs grappler matchup that the whole UFC was based on. This fight is going to be great and it’s on a great PPV card which also features a title fight between Alexander Volkanovski and The Korean Zombie, Chan Sung Jung. We can’t wait to see this fight go down.
Yan was born February 11, 1993 in Dudinka, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia. He is of Chinese and Russian Descent. Yan started his Martial Arts Journey in sixth grade ITF Taekwon-do. He was in a lot of street fights growing up which led Yan’s family tp try to move around to different areas to try to deter this type of behavior. After his brother started boxing Yan would take up the sport too, even though his brother didn’t approve of him doing so. Yan would train in Boxing for eight years and would become Master of Sport in Boxing.
Yan would later turn his focus to MMA he’d make his professional debut against Murad Bakiev winning by Knockout in March of 2013. Renato Velame would be next for Yan and he’d win the bout via Unanimous decision. He’d then go on to face Haron Orzumiev in May of 2015 winning by Submission (Guillotine Choke.) Artur Mirzakhanyan would be next for Yan and Yan would win by TKO (Punches.) He’d win his next fight before losing a fight to Magomed Magomedov. Yan would win his next three fights before getting a UFC contract.
Yan would make his UFC debut against Teruto Ishihara in June of 2018 winning by TKO (Punches.) Jin Soo Son would be his next fight in the promotion. The fight would be at catchweight because Yan’s Opponent didn’t make weight. He’d win the fight by Unanimous Decision. He’d go on to face Douglas Silva de Andrade at UFC 232 Yan would get the victory by TKO (corner stoppage.) Yan would win his next three fights including a bout with WEC and UFC veteran Urijah Faber. Yan would fight José Aldo for the vacant Bantamweight title and would win via TKO (punches.) He’d then face Aljamain Sterling and would lose the bout and the belt by disqualification when he threw an illegal knee. He’d then face Cory Sandhagen for an Interim Bantamweight title winning by Unanimous Decision.
Yan will face Sterling again, and we will see who ultimately is the better fighter. Yan was winning the first fight. We will see who comes out on top soon.
MMA Aficionado 