Petr Yan: ‘Nothing really impresses me’ about UFC bantamweight division

Petr Yan, the UFC bantamweight champion, has expressed little enthusiasm for the current state of his division ahead of his trilogy bout against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 333 on October 24. The Russian fighter, who reclaimed his title in December with a unanimous decision victory over Dvalishvili, has spent the intervening months recovering from lumbar surgery performed in January.

Despite the shifting landscape at 135 pounds—particularly Yadong Song's knockout of Umar Nurmagomedov—Yan remains unimpressed. "To be honest, I've been watching the division and nothing really impresses me," Yan told MMA Fighting. "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." He added that the division features "the same kind of people swirling around."

The champion has made clear he takes a hands-off approach to opponent selection, deferring entirely to UFC matchmaking. "The champ doesn't choose his opponents. We have matchmaking here for a reason. I think whoever they'll put there, I'll be ready to fight them and beat them," Yan stated. His willingness to face any contender, coupled with his dismissal of the division's current tier of competition, underscores his confidence entering the third meeting with Dvalishvili, a fighter he has already defeated twice.