Petr Yan rebounded in impressive fashion.
In the main card opener of UFC 299 at Kaseya Center in Miami, former champion Yan (17-5 MMA, 9-4 UFC) rallied to defeat rising contender Yadong Song (21-8-1 MMA, 10-3-1 UFC) in their bantamweight bout to snap his three-fight losing skid by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
Back in a MAJOR way! 😤
💢 @PetrYanUFC at his brilliant best as he sees off the challenge of Song Yadong! #UFC299 pic.twitter.com/q5NIldOK7e
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) March 10, 2024
Song opened up with a leg kick and a quick left hook in Round 1. Song faked a takedown attempt, as Yan connected with an overhand right. Song was finding a home for the left hook, as Yan attacked the body. Song landed a takedown towards the end of the round.
At the start of Round 2, Song pushed Yan against the fence, but Yan was able to break free. Yan continued to bite heavily on Song’s takedown attempts, but made him pay with a couple of short uppercuts. Yan started to open up, and defended a Song single leg takedown attempt. Yan landed a couple of uppercuts followed by a body shot. Yan ended the round with a takedown of his own, and cut Song with an elbow on the ground.
Both fighters landed big body kicks to kick off Round 3. Song pumped out his jab, as Yan countered with a spinning heel kick. Yan stuffed another Song takedown and fired some body shots. Yan’s takedown defense continued to hold up, as Song slowed down. With a about a minute remaining in the fight, Yan landed a takedown, and maintained top position for the rest of the round.
The judges saw the fight unanimously for the former champion Yan.
As a result, Yan returns to the win column, snapping a three-fight skid stretching back to 2021. After dropping the title by DQ to Aljamain Sterling, Yan won the interim belt by beating Cory Sandhagen, but then went winless until returning to the winner’s circle by defeating Song.
Up-to-the-minute UFC 299 results include:
- Petr Yan def. Song Yadong via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Curtis Blaydes def. Jailton Almeida via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 0:36
- Maycee Barber def. Katlyn Cerminara via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Mateusz Gamrot def. Rafael dos Anjos via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
- Philipe Lins def. Ion Cutelaba via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Michel Pereira def. Michal Oleksiejczuk via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 1:01
- Robelis Despaigne def. Josh Parisian via KO (punch) – Round 1, 0:18
- Asu Almabaev def. CJ Vergara via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Joanne Wood def. Maryna Moroz via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 299.
