Petr Yan
With a roster packed full of exciting talents and a healthy mix of seasoned veterans and rising stars, the UFC’s bantamweight division looks set to be one of the most exciting weight classes in MMA over the next few years. And perhaps the most exciting fighter of the lot is Russia’s [autotag]Petr Yan[/autotag]. I’ve followed his rise from the Russian scene in ACB all the way to the UFC. And, since joining the MMA leader, he’s made short work of his rise up the 135-pound ladder as he’s made the switch from the ACB cage to the UFC octagon with consummate ease.
He finished the decade with a statement victory as he finished one of the division’s all-time greats, Urijah Faber, at UFC 245 to set himself up for a possible shot at the UFC bantamweight title. And, with a talent-stacked division snapping at his heels looking for title shots of their own, there will be no shortage of high-energy, fast-paced matchups for Yan as he looks to separate himself from the pack as the world’s premier 135er.
His crowd-pleasing fighting style, heavy hands and willingness to go toe-to-toe with anyone has already made him a firm favorite among seasoned MMA aficionados. But a run at the belt, with a little more promotion behind him, could soon position him as the next big star to come out of Russia as he bids to follow in the footsteps of his fellow countryman Nurmagomedov and capture a UFC title.
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