With just one fight to his name in the past 17 months, former UFC champion Petr Yan is eager to return to the octagon before the year is over.
Yan (17-5 MMA, 9-4 UFC) snapped his three-fight losing skid in March with a unanimous decision victory over Song Yadong at UFC 299 in March, but he sustained a torn ACL and meniscus that required surgery and prevented a quick return to competition.
Now healthy and prepared to enter a training camp, Yan has called for a place on the final numbered event of 2024, which is UFC 310 on Dec. 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (via X):
I want to fight on the last ppv card of the year 👊🏼
— Petr “No Mercy” Yan (@PetrYanUFC) August 28, 2024
I want to fight on the last ppv card of the year 👊🏼
If Yan, No. 5 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie bantamweight rankings, had his choice of opponent, he thinks a showdown with No. 11-ranked Deiveson Figueiredo, a former multitime flyweight champion and 3-0 since moving up to 135 pounds, would be the best fit (via X):
Figeredo
— Petr “No Mercy” Yan (@PetrYanUFC) August 28, 2024
With the majority of the names between Yan and Figueiredo (24-3-1 MMA, 13-3-1 UFC) either booked, coming off a loss or on a different trajectory, the matchup would seemingly be a well-timed fit for both ends.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 310.
