5 Fights We Need to See After UFC 299

The UFC matchmakers have some important decisions to make after Saturday’s UFC 299 card in Miami. The stacked event was headlined by a bantamweight title…

The UFC matchmakers have some important decisions to make after Saturday’s UFC 299 card in Miami. The stacked event was headlined by a bantamweight title…

Petr Yan planning to fight ‘Chito’ Vera and Sean O’Malley following his return to the win column at UFC 299

After snapping a three-fight losing skid, Petr Yan already has his next two fights planned out. Making his first…

After snapping a three-fight losing skid, Petr Yan already has his next two fights planned out.

Making his first appearance of 2024 inside the Octagon, ‘No Mercy’ delivered a solid showing against rising bantamweight contender Song Yadong in the UFC 299 main card opener. Though the bout was relatively close on the stat sheet, Yan delivered the more punishing blows throughout the second and third rounds, securing him the 29-28 decision on all three scorecards.

Petr Yan

Back in the win column, the former bantamweight champion already has some big aspirations, including a fight with one-time UFC title challenger Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera.

But he’s not stopping there…

“Chito, you are next,” Yan said backstage. “Sean after. I’ll smash these two guys.”

Petr Yan Wants Redemption for Controversial Loss to Sean O’Malley

A couple hours after Yan saw his hand raised inside the Octagon, ‘Chito’ Vera and Sean O’Malley stepped into the main event spotlight at UFC 299 for a rematch nearly four years in the making. O’Malley, who was determined to erase a bitter loss to Vera in August 2020, put on a striking clinic, battering Vera for 25 minutes en route to retaining his 135-pound crown decisively.

Sean O'Malley vs. Marlon Vera

With Yan locked in at No. 4 in the rankings and Vera still clinging to his No. 5 slot, a fight between the two would certainly make sense and could be exactly what ‘No Mercy’ needs to secure his own rematch with Sean O’Malley.

Before ‘Sugar’ claimed the bantamweight title with a brutal second-round KO of Aljamain Sterling last year, he had to go through Petr Yan at UFC 280. O’Malley walked away with a razor-close split decision. The result was met with significant skepticism from pundits believing Yan’s six takedowns and more than five minutes of control time were enough to win.

UFC 299 Predictions: Bleacher Report Main Card Staff Picks

UFC 299 is set for this Saturday in Miami, and it will surely go down as one of the best cards of the year. It is absolutely stacked from to bottom—so much so…

UFC 299 is set for this Saturday in Miami, and it will surely go down as one of the best cards of the year. It is absolutely stacked from to bottom—so much so…

Petr Yan mocks Song Yadong’s UFC Vegas 83 win, call out: ‘I knock you out’

Song Yadong Petr Yan UFC Vegas 83After a smothering victory over the red-hot Chris Gutierrez at UFC Vegas 83, Song Yadong continued to show off…

Song Yadong Petr Yan UFC Vegas 83

After a smothering victory over the red-hot Chris Gutierrez at UFC Vegas 83, Song Yadong continued to show off his newly-found apparent mastery of the English language by absolutely flaming the former UFC bantamweight champion on live-TV: Petr Yan.

Song Yadong came into UFC Vegas 83 in dire need of a victory. Not only did Yadong emerge from the cage victorious, but he also emerged as a young superstar. While many hardcore fans might have been sold on the young Chinese fighter for many years now, the casual MMA fan now knows the potential of this young stud. While the fight may have been gritty and lackluster in many places, it was still a beautiful exhibition of skill.

Song Yadong mixed the martial arts he’s been refining for many years into an elegant blend of sinister mayhem at UFC Vegas 83. He was everywhere, and nowhere at all. The elite and dangerous Chris Gutierrez came into the match with what some may call the world’s largest chip on his shoulder. He was fighting for his child; in an effort to prove his worth as a parent, and an adversary. These are words not chosen by us, but shared by Gutierrez himself in the leadup to the match.

Yet, Yadong was an indomitable force inside the cage. For as much emotion as Gutierrez carried into the matchup, it was ruled ineffective. Song Yadong defeated his opponent with a masterful blend of mixed martial arts. Nothing more, and nothing less.

The former bantamweight champion Petr Yan reacted to the fight with a yawning emoji, but that’s most likely to disguise Yan’s real feelings. Which, one could imagine would look a lot more like the flushed-face emoji. An emoji that is commonly used to show fear and awe.

Song Yadong burns Petr Yan, issues a warning to the former bantamweight champion

During his post-fight interview, the former champion Petr Yan tweeted a yawning emoji. This was obviously in direct reference to Song Yadong’s performance.

Inside the cage, Paul Felder (who was conducting the interview) asked Yadong how he felt about that disrespect, and the young Chinese superstar reacted brilliantly. Without the need for his translator to finish speaking, Yadong sneered and took the microphone. “Your last fight too, bro,” Yadong replied casually. This inspired Felder and the translator to let loose a wild laugh, as many fans watching at home probably did at that same moment as well.

“Sheit, (you and your last fight) look sheit!” Song Yadong continued, in near-perfect English. “Sometimes, (people have lackluster performances) you know. (If we) fight next, I knock you out… Boxing, your boxing is good? Ok, let’s go. Let’s try it! Who has the heaviest hands?”

“I’m coming!” Song Yadong ended, in what was truly a glorious call-out. Following up on what was no doubt the biggest performance of his young career, Yadong also made sure to resonate with English-speaking fans more than he ever has before. This is important for an international superstar, as history has shown how fans can fail to appreciate greatness because of things such as language barriers.

How blown away were you by Song Yadong’s post-fight interview?

Video – Former UFC Champions Conor McGregor and Petr Yan Have intense face-Off in Dubai

Conor McGregorConor McGregor never passes up a photo opportunity, especially if it means facing off with a fighter he’s significantly…

Conor McGregor

Conor McGregor never passes up a photo opportunity, especially if it means facing off with a fighter he’s significantly bigger than.

That’s exactly what happened when the Irish megastar engaged in an intense staredown with former UFC bantamweight titleholder Petr Yan. Both men were in Dubai to watch the IBA Night of Champions event at Agenda Arena.

The president of the IBA, Umar Kremlev, oversaw the face-off while holding up an IBA world championship belt.

Conor McGregor’s Long-Awaited UFC Return is Still up in the air

The last time Conor McGregor competed inside the Octagon was in July 2021, more than two and a half years ago. Despite the long layoff, he has stayed in the spotlight as rumors regarding his long-awaited return continue to run rampant.

Re-enrolling in the USADA testing pool in October, McGregor is expected to fight again in 2024, but no official date has been announced as of yet.

Who McGregor will face in his quote-unquote “greatest combat in combat sports history” has also been a point of frustration for fight fans. ‘Iron’ Michael Chandler was expected to be the man to welcome McGregor back to the Octagon, but in recent months, everyone from UFC CEO Dana White to the Irishman himself has seemingly poured cold water on the prospect of fighting the former Bellator lightweight champion.

In the time since McGregor has been out of action, Petr Yan has competed four times, scoring a win over Cory Sandhagen in October 2021 before losing three straight bouts against Aljamain Sterling, Sean O’Malley, and Merab Dvalishvili.

Marlon Vera calls for short notice fight with ex-Champion Petr Yan at UFC 292 in August: ‘Step up’

Marlon Vera calls for short notice fight with Petr Yan in August at UFC 292 Step upOff the back of the cancellation of his bantamweight clash against former duel-weight champion, Henry Cejudo at UFC 292 in August, fan-favorite division contender, Marlon Vera has called for a long-awaited fight with another former titleholder, Petr Yan at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Vera, the current number six ranked bantamweight contender, has been […]

Marlon Vera calls for short notice fight with Petr Yan in August at UFC 292 Step up

Off the back of the cancellation of his bantamweight clash against former duel-weight champion, Henry Cejudo at UFC 292 in August, fan-favorite division contender, Marlon Vera has called for a long-awaited fight with another former titleholder, Petr Yan at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.

Vera, the current number six ranked bantamweight contender, has been sidelined since he headlined UFC Fight Night San Antonio back in March of this year against the surging, Cory Sandhagen, seeing his impressive four-fight winning run halted in a comprehensive split decision defeat.

Booked to return to the Octagon in a high-stakes fight with former undisputed bantamweight and flyweight champion, Cejudo at UFC 292 in August – Marlon Vera saw the matchup fall to the wayside just last night, with Olympic gold medalist, Cejudo confirming his withdrawal from the bout due to a shoulder tear suffered, which will require a six to eight week term of rehabilitation. 

Marlon Vera calls for a reworked fight against ex-champion, Petr Yan

In turn, Vera, a staple under head coach, Jason Parillo – who has served as a headliner in his three most recent Octagon outings, has called for a long-speculated fight with Dudinka native, Yan.

“(Petr) Yan step up,” Marlon Vera tweeted following the announcement of Henry Cejudo’s withdrawal from UFC 292. 

Prior to his judging loss against Sandhagen, Vera had turned in a pair of decision wins over both Davey Grant, and Rob Font – as well as stunning high kick knockout wins over former lightweight and bantmaweight champions, Frankie Edgar, and Dominick Cruz, respectively.

In the midst of a three-fight losing run, Russian contender, Yan suffered a title rematch unification loss to Aljamain Sterling, before a decision blemish to Sean O’Malley back in October.

In a headlining clash back in March to boot, Yan dropped a one-sided unanimous decision loss against Merab Dvalishvili – with the Georgian promoted to the number one contender rank in the division to boot.