UFC followers acquired some encouraging information on Saturday after UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan posted a video of himself shadowboxing.
The Return of Petr Yan:
Yan claimed the 135-pound belt after defeating Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 323 final December. Following his title win, Yan underwent a serious nine-hour again surgical procedure to restore broken lumbar discs. Till Saturday, followers had not seen any footage or updates relating to Yan’s restoration or potential return to motion.
In mid-June, Yan’s teammate, PFL’s Karim Henniene, advised LowKickMMA that Yan was two months away from returning to coaching. It has now been slightly below two months since that interview passed off.
On the time of Henniene’s replace, it appeared unlikely that followers would see Petr Yan compete in 2026. Whether or not he fights this yr stays to be decided, however the truth that he’s again to coaching is an extremely encouraging signal.
When “No Mercy” does return to the cage, he will likely be entering a trilogy matchup with Merab in his first title protection. Dvalishvili defeated Yan by dominant unanimous resolution when the 2 first fought in March 2023. Nonetheless, Petr exacted his revenge final yr, defeating Merab of their rematch and ending Dvalishvili’s title reign, which included three profitable defenses.
The rematch between the 2 earned Combat of the Yr nominations, and a trilogy bout ought to have UFC followers extremely excited.
There have been varied rumors all year long that the UFC may think about reserving an interim title struggle at 135 kilos whereas Yan stays sidelined. With Petr unable to compete, Merab Dvalishvili has additionally remained inactive this yr whereas ready for his eventual title alternative.
The Bantamweight Title Image:
If Merab have been to not obtain the subsequent title shot, which appears unlikely, Sean O’Malley would seemingly be subsequent in line. O’Malley has a win over Petr Yan from a considerably controversial resolution when the 2 first fought in October 2022.
After dropping his belt to Merab in 2024, O’Malley has loved a robust 2026 marketing campaign, incomes a choice victory over Tune Yadong earlier than knocking out Aiemann Zahabi at UFC Freedom 250 in June.
Umar Nurmagomedov can be firmly within the title image close to the highest of the bantamweight division. Umar misplaced a razor-close resolution to Merab of their championship bout in January 2025, struggling the primary lack of his skilled profession. Since then, Nurmagomedov has picked up victories over Mario Bautista and Deiveson Figueiredo.
He’s at the moment booked to headline UFC Shanghai on August 29 towards Tune Yadong.
Petr Yan’s Journey to Gold:
Yan’s journey again to championship gold was a strenuous and galvanizing one. After beginning his UFC tenure 6-0, Petr acquired his first alternative at UFC gold in July 2020, when he decimated Jose Aldo to say the bantamweight championship.
Nonetheless, Yan suffered a controversial loss in his first title protection after being disqualified for illegally kneeing Aljamain Sterling.
Petr Yan went on to win the interim championship towards Cory Sandhagen in 2021, however he did not unify the belts in his rematch with Sterling. After that loss to Sterling, Yan suffered these aforementioned losses to O’Malley and Dvalishvili, and lots of counted him out of ever changing into champion once more after dropping three straight fights.
Nonetheless, he launched into one other title run, defeating Tune Yadong, Deiveson Figueiredo, and Marcus McGhee earlier than delivering his title-winning efficiency towards Merab final December.
It stays unclear precisely when Yan will return. In spite of everything, that is the primary footage followers have seen of Yan wherever within the fight sports activities world since he underwent again surgical procedure.
Additionally it is vital to notice that the footage solely reveals Yan shadowboxing, and it’s at the moment unknown whether or not he has been cleared to renew sparring.
What is obvious is that this can be a very thrilling and inspiring signal for the bantamweight division. After months of uncertainty surrounding his restoration, followers lastly have one thing tangible to get enthusiastic about relating to the return of Petr Yan.
