Yan vs Mcghee Prediction
📢 Former UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan from Russia is set to compete at UFC on ABC 9 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. He will face off against American Marcus McGhee. Yan is considered the clear favorite in this matchup. But will he live up to his status? And what can we expect from this encounter overall? Read on for the editorial prediction from Scores24!
H2H Stats Fights and Previous Results
Petr Yan Player Overview
Yan enters the Abu Dhabi tournament riding a two-fight decision-winning streak. He first outclassed the resilient Chinese fighter Song Yadong and followed that up in November last year with a victory over Brazilian Deiveson Figueiredo. This series of wins has improved Petr's professional record to 18-5.
The former UFC champion is renowned for his explosive and versatile striking technique. On average, the Russian lands 9.01 strikes per minute with an accuracy of 64%. His style is largely built on a boxing foundation. However, he also excels in takedown defense, and his exceptional cardio allows him to outlast opponents in the latter half of the fight.
Match Results: Petr Yan
Marcus McGhee Player Overview
Marcus has competed in just four UFC bouts, having started his MMA career relatively late-his octagon debut came only in 2020. Despite this, "The Maniac" quickly garnered the affection of the UFC management thanks to his aggressive fighting style: he secured early victories in three out of his four fights in the promotion. In his most recent bout, the American fighter defeated Jonathan Martinez by decision, bringing his professional record to an impressive 10-1.
On average, McGee lands 12.74 strikes per minute with a punch accuracy of 50%. Wrestling appears to be Marcus's weak point. However, matchmakers have been skillfully guiding him, shielding him from challenging opponents.
Match Results: Marcus McGhee
Latest news
Petr Yan
Petr Yan on the upcoming fight:
"I'm satisfied with a win. Whether it's by decision or an early finish is secondary. Of course, you always want to finish early to leave no doubts for the judges. However, a fight doesn't always go as planned."
Marcus McGhee
Marcus McGee on the upcoming bout:
“I completely understand that Petr didn't necessarily have to take this fight with me, considering I'm only ranked 13th. So, I respect his decision and am grateful for the opportunity to face him. This is Petr Yan we're talking about. He has almost no weaknesses in his arsenal. He's a very versatile fighter, and that's what excites me. I'm about to go up against one of the best fighters in the world, and I'll have to use everything I've got.”
Editorial Prediction
There's no denying that Yan is the clear favorite in this matchup, and there's little point in arguing otherwise. However, it's equally clear that Yan won't rush into action. As is often the case, the Russian will likely spend the first round assessing his opponent, looking for vulnerabilities to exploit later on. After the midpoint, expect a more focused approach from him. Considering that over 60 percent of Yan's fights have gone to a decision, and his last six bouts have all been decided by the judges, we predict that this battle with the American will also go the distance.
