Yan’s Pressure and Precision Carried Him Past McGhee in Abu

Petr Yan defeated Marcus McGhee by unanimous decision in the UFC Abu Dhabi co-main event on July 26, 2025. All three judges scored the bantamweight contest 29–28 for Yan at Etihad Arena in the United Arab Emirates.

Yan steadily reduced the space available

The former champion advanced behind feints and kicks while McGhee worked from the outside. McGhee found occasional counters, but Yan’s pressure increasingly made him defend near the fence.

The first round remained competitive, with McGhee using his movement and striking to stay involved. Yan nevertheless looked comfortable setting the direction of the exchanges and selecting opportunities to attack.

The second round brought more damaging connections

McGhee landed with his right hand before Yan answered with punches that visibly hurt him. The American responded by clinching and throwing a knee rather than allowing the pressure to become a completely unanswered sequence.

Yan continued finding his right hand and forced McGhee backward again. Damage around McGhee’s right eye reflected the increasingly difficult exchanges, although he remained willing to fire back.

Late clinch work secured the full-distance result

Yan pursued a body lock in the third and added knees while McGhee fought to avoid the takedown. McGhee eventually reversed the fence position, but Yan answered with a trip before the contest ended.

The victory gave Yan a third consecutive decision win after earlier successes against Song Yadong and Deiveson Figueiredo. McGhee completed the distance against an experienced former titleholder, but every judge favored Yan when the official totals were read.

Sources

• Cageside Press: pressure, second-round damage and late trip
• UFC: event details and official scorecards
• Cageside Press: Yan’s preceding two victories

Tags

MMA, Combat Sports