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Strange matchmaking alert!
Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Bantamweight and No. 2-ranked Petr Yan returns after an eight-month hiatus to face No. 13-ranked Marcus McGhee at UFC Abu Dhabi on July 26, 2025, at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Yes, Yan, who has a stronger claim to a Bantamweight title shot at UFC 316 than Sean OâMalley, is pitted against a fighter largely unfamiliar to MMA fans.
On paper, this matchup promises fireworksâboth are elite strikersâbut pairing them at their current rankings feels utterly perplexing and makes zero sense.
Yan (18-5) is on a two-fight win streak, rebounding from a tough three-fight slide. The Russian delivered a commanding unanimous decision over Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC Macau (watch highlights) and previously bested Song Yadong at UFC 299.
Yan had been pushing for a clash with Umar Nurmagomedov, but that fight appears to be shelved for now.
McGhee (10-1) remains unbeaten in the UFC, boasting a 4-0 record with three finishes. His latest win came against Jonathan Martinez at UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden, securing this high-stakes opportunity.
A victory for âManiacâ could catapult him into the Bantamweight top 3.