Petr Yan is the UFC Bantamweight Champion, having reclaimed the title he briefly held in 2020 before being disqualified against Aljamain Sterling. His journey back to the top of the bantamweight division is one of the more compelling redemption arcs in recent UFC history -- from disqualification loss, to two controversial decision defeats against Sterling, to finally reclaiming gold against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 323 in December 2025.
Yan's striking is widely considered the most technically complete at bantamweight. His combinations, body work, timing, and defensive head movement put him in elite company among all active UFC fighters, not just at his weight class. The Russian from Ekaterinburg has been training combat sports since childhood, and the technical polish shows in every exchange.
The win over Dvalishvili -- who had been champion for over a year and was known for his superhuman conditioning and wrestling output -- was a statement victory. Yan's gameplan neutralized Merab's takedown game and outworked him on the feet across five rounds. No mercy indeed.
- UFC Bantamweight Champion (beat Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 323, Dec 2025)
- Former UFC Bantamweight Champion (2020)
- One of the most technically complete strikers in bantamweight history
- Victories over Jose Aldo, Aljamain Sterling, Sean O'Malley
- Multiple Performance of the Night bonuses
- 01Right hook to the body
- 02Left straight down the middle
- 03Check left hook counter
- 04Rear body kick setup
- 05Elbow in the clinch
- 06Takedown off punch feint
Yan went from a disqualification heartbreak to two controversial losses and had every reason to fall apart. Instead he kept his head down, kept winning, and finally got back to the top at UFC 323. No Mercy on and off the cage. The path back is always harder than the path up.