Petr Yan unimpressed with current UFC bantamweight division
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The UFC bantamweight champion is not impressed by the weight class' top contenders and says he will fight anyone.
After more than ten months away, Petr Yan is expected to return to the Octagon. The Russian is set to face Merab Dvalishvili for the third time at UFC 333 on Oct. 24 in Abu Dhabi. Although the bantamweight division has seen significant results during Yan's time away from competition, the champion believes he has already dealt with many of the weight class' top contenders.
Petr Yan Is Unimpressed By Current Contenders
Yan last stepped inside the Octagon in December 2025 when he defeated Dvalishvili by unanimous decision to become a two-time UFC bantamweight champion. Not long after the fight, the Russian underwent surgery to address a back injury and has been following the division while recovering.
During his time away, the weight class has seen several important matchups, including Song Yadong's submission victory over Deiveson Figueiredo, his knockout of Umar Nurmagomedov, and Sean O'Malley's wins over Song and Aiemann Zahabi. However, the results have not changed Yan's view of the contenders.
"To be honest, I've been watching the division and nothing really impresses me because yeah, some people are winning, some people are losing, but let's say Song and Umar, Song knocked out Umar, but I've beaten Song already," Yan told MMA Fighting. "So there's really not all that much that I'm impressed with. Same kind of people swirling around, so I'm happy to come out and fight everybody and beat everybody."
Petr Yan Will Fight Whoever UFC Chooses
Currently focused on his trilogy with Dvalishvili, Yan is already prepared to face whoever the UFC puts in front of him afterward. After all, the Russian does not believe the champion should be choosing his own challengers.
"The champ doesn't choose his opponents," Yan said. "We have matchmaking here for a reason. I think whoever they'll put there, I'll be ready to fight them."
Yan and Dvalishvili will meet for a third time at UFC 333. Their first encounter came in May 2023, when the Georgian earned a unanimous decision victory. More than two and a half years later, Yan evened the rivalry by reclaiming the bantamweight title with a unanimous decision of his own. Now, both fighters will look to settle the score in Abu Dhabi.
