Henry Cejudo defined why he thinks Petr Yan deserves to be the UFC’s Fighter of the 12 months.
This 12 months, Petr Yan was capable of go 2-0 within the Final Combating Championship. He defeated Marcus McGee for the primary time in July, then defeated Merab Dvalishvili in the principle occasion of UFC 323 to regain the UFC bantamweight title. This was one thing that few folks thought he might do.
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As we glance to the longer term, it seems like Yan has an opportunity to reign nice like many anticipated for the primary time. Alas, as extremely spectacular as defeating Dvalishvili was on this approach, it is also vital to take a step again and mirror on the success he is already achieved.
As the talk continues over who ought to be Fighter of the 12 months, Henry Cejudo insisted that Yan take the respect.
Cejudo’s tackle Yan’s 2025
“Name me loopy, however I do know lots of people are judging Merab simply because he fought 4 occasions, however the actuality is, you are solely pretty much as good as your final battle,” Cejudo mentioned on the “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Kamaru Usman. “I’ve at hand it to Petr Yan. Why? As a result of the story is there, what he was capable of do, who he fought to win the title and avenge the primary time he misplaced 50-45 in opposition to Merab.”
“To have the ability to come again and truly beat him was spectacular to me. … It is high quality and amount and simply the easy incontrovertible fact that he was capable of beat Merab after shedding 50-45, to me that is guts. That is fighter of the 12 months. That is a couple of fighter who by no means gave up on his dream and got here again 5 years after being champion.”
Quote by way of MMA Junkie
