In less than a week, Petr Yan will put his bantamweight title on the line against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 333. The rivals are set to complete their trilogy in Abu Dhabi, with both fighters having one win apiece heading into the decisive showdown.
Dvalishvili dominated their first meeting in March 2023, securing a convincing decision victory with his relentless pressure and wrestling. However, Yan turned things around at UFC 323 in December 2025, shutting down the Georgian’s grappling-heavy approach to earn a lopsided decision win and reclaim the bantamweight championship.
With fight week underway, the UFC has found a way to celebrate Yan’s return to the top. The promotion recently uploaded a video titled “UFC’s Greatest Boxer,” featuring more than three hours of the Russian’s best moments inside the Octagon.
UFC Honors Petr Yan With Massive Career Compilation Ahead of Merab Dvalishvili Trilogy
The tribute, posted on the UFC’s official YouTube channel, highlights Yan’s standout performances against some of the division’s biggest names, including Jose Aldo, Urijah Faber, Cory Sandhagen, Song Yadong, and Marcus McGhee.
Yan’s boxing is a big reason why he has earned such a reputation. The Russian uses a high guard to block and parry incoming shots while steadily moving forward. He also switches between orthodox and southpaw stances with ease, creating different angles for his attacks and setting up powerful body hooks and sharp counterpunches.
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His numbers back up his reputation, too. Yan boasts a 55% striking accuracy rate, landing 1,456 of his 2,652 significant strike attempts. He also lands 5.16 significant strikes per minute while maintaining a 60% striking defense rate.
The Russian has recorded nine knockdowns at bantamweight, tied for the most in the division’s history, and holds the UFC record for the most significant strikes landed in the weight class. Of course, calling Yan the UFC’s greatest boxer is bound to spark some debate.
Fighters such as Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier have strong cases of their own, thanks to their striking records and performances against elite competition.
However, Yan’s biggest strength lies in his technical fundamentals. Rather than relying solely on volume, he patiently studies his opponents, switches stances to create openings, and uses sharp combinations and intelligent footwork to cut off the Octagon. His defensive awareness also makes him difficult to hit cleanly.
Still, the UFC’s bold praise might not convince everyone. Yan hasn’t finished an opponent since 2020, giving critics another reason to question the label. With his trilogy fight against Dvalishvili just days away, the Russian will have another opportunity to remind fans why his boxing remains one of the best in the sport.
Kshitiz Kumar Singh is a UFC Writer at NY Fights with over three years of experience in sports journalism and content creation. Known for his sharp storytelling and passion for combat sports, he has written in-depth features on stars like Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture, and Ilia Topuria. Before joining NY Fights, Kshitiz worked as a UFC Editor at EssentiallySports while currently serving as a WWE Editor at FirstSportz. His admiration for legends like Georges St-Pierre continues to inspire his detailed and engaging MMA coverage. Whether he’s covering the Octagon or the squared circle, Kshitiz is committed to delivering accurate, high-quality content. Outside the world of sports, he’s a dedicated cinephile, often found practicing monologues from his favorite Al Pacino films, combining his love for cinema with storytelling.
