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Petr Yan is getting some shine from UFC.<\/p>\n
The reigning bantamweight titleholder is considered to be \u201cUFC\u2019s Greatest Boxer\u201d in a new video tribute posted on the promotion\u2019s YouTube Channel, featuring highlight-reel performances against Teruto Ishihara, Jose Aldo, and Urijah Faber, among others.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo Mercy\u201d is just a couple of days away from defending his 135-pound strap in a rubber match against longtime rival Merab Dvalishvili, who many would argue is the promotion\u2019s greatest wrestler. After all, \u201cThe Machine\u201d is the only UFC fighter in history to break 100 takedowns.<\/p>\n
As far as the striking records, most of which are dominated by former featherweight champion Max Holloway, Yan (20-5) does not even crack the Top 10 \u2014 but he does lead the 135-pound weight class in significant strikes landed and sits at No. 2 behind Dvalishvili in total strikes landed.<\/p>\n
What makes a fighter a good boxer? That\u2019s debatable, but it\u2019s worth pointing out that Yan, 33, has not finished a fight in over six years.<\/p>\n
\u201cI cannot really be annoyed with [Merab\u2019s pressure] because it\u2019s part of his game plan,\u201d Yan told Paramount+. \u201cEvery MMA fighter has their own game plan. This is his. To keep moving forward, to keep pressuring. But as we know, diamonds are made under pressure. So, we will find out who we really are when that pressure keeps coming at you and see if you are that diamond. Everybody knows how to swim, but not everybody is ready to go too far away from the shore.\u201d<\/p>\n