No doubt, UFC Abu Dhabi has surpassed all expectations with its relentless chaos and electrifying action. From the opening prelims to this point in the night, the pace hasn’t slowed for a moment. With three main card fights already wrapped up, the event is racing toward its blockbuster main event—but it’s the bantamweight co-main clash between former champion Petr Yan and No. 12-ranked Marcus McGhee that has fans locked in, delivering a war that’s stealing the spotlight.
Despite stepping into MMA at the relatively late age of 30, Marcus McGhee has fully embraced the late bloomer tag—often seen as a disadvantage in the UFC. But during the UFC Abu Dhabi co-main event, his hunger and grit were on full display. From the start, oddsmakers firmly backed Petr Yan, citing his championship pedigree and 14-fight UFC résumé. What many thought would be a lopsided affair—given McGhee’s lack of top-tier experience—quickly evolved into a much tighter contest.
What’s Petr Yan planning after beating Marcus McGhee at UFC Abu Dhabi?
In the opening round, McGhee caught Petr Yan off guard with crisp leg kicks and a few lunging punches to test his reach. Yan, however, leaned on his experience, landing a sharp right hand and showcasing flashes of his world-class boxing. But just as momentum leaned in ‘No Mercy’s favor, McGhee rocked him with a clean combo that flipped the script and, by the end of the first round, showed exactly why he belonged there.
The second round saw both Marcus McGhee and Petr Yan going toe-to-toe, exchanging strikes almost evenly and keeping the action tight—until ‘No Mercy’ landed a hard left in the closing seconds. While the Russian’s boxing was on point, McGhee applied more pressure with higher output and combinations. Yet, when it came to Petr Yan’s grappling and overall striking, McGhee couldn’t hold his ground. In the end, the judges scored the fight in favor of Petr Yan with (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
With the win, Yan finally put together a three-fight win streak after previously suffering three consecutive losses. Looking ahead, he called out reigning bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, hoping to reclaim his title next. Notably, someone already scheduled ‘The Machine’ to face Cory Sandhagen at UFC 320 in October. Backing ‘No Mercy’s ambitions, former champion Henry Cejudo voiced his support on X shortly after the fight, writing: “Petr Yan vs the winner of Merab/Sandhagen. Book.”
Petr Yan vs the winner of Merab/Sandhagen. Book it #UFCAbuDhabi
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) July 26, 2025
On the other hand, former welterweight champion Belal Muhammad had a different idea for matchmaking. He posted on X: “Petr Yan vs Sean O’malley , Marcu McGhee vs Patchy Mix,” pushing for a fresh wave of bantamweight matchups.
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s theory shut down by Petr Yan
Petr Yan’s downfall began with his disqualification loss to Aljamain Sterling at UFC 259—a moment that not only cost him the bantamweight title but also marked the start of his struggle to reclaim the top spot. Although ‘No Mercy’ managed to win the interim title against Cory Sandhagen, it wasn’t enough to reignite his dominance. Instead, he spiraled into a three-fight losing streak, marking the toughest chapter of his UFC journey after what had once been a meteoric rise.
At the peak of his career, Petr Yan was riding a 10-fight win streak, dominating opponents both inside and outside the UFC. But the slump that followed seemed to echo a long-held belief by UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov, who famously claimed that a fighter can only reach their peak once. In many ways, the Russian’s career seemed to mirror that theory—until now.
With back-to-back victories restoring his momentum, Petr Yan is ready to challenge that narrative. Speaking to Red Corner MMA, ‘No Mercy’ responded directly to Nurmagomedov’s statement: “That’s Khabib’s theory,” Yan said at media day when asked about the legend’s claim that two peaks is not possible for a fighter (h/t Red Corner MMA). “Let him stick to it. I don’t know how to tell if you’re at your peak. You need to feel it, or show it. I feel like I have everything to get there.”
Now riding a three-fight win streak—most recently against Marcus McGhee—will Dana White & Co. give Petr Yan a shot at the winner of Merab Dvalishvili vs. Cory Sandhagen? Drop your prediction below.
The post Petr Yan’s Only Wish at UFC Abu Dhabi Opposed as Dvalishvili vs Sandhagen Meets a Twist appeared first on EssentiallySports.
