Last week I posed the question, “What can we learn from Petr Yan’s fights vs. Magomed Magomedov?” I demonstrated the depth of Yan’s defensive wrestling game and pointed to the factors that would work in Yan’s favor in his upcoming fight vs. Aljamain Sterling at UFC 259. I suggested that some of Yan’s “bad” looks as a defensive wrestler in the UFC have been largely circumstantial based on his striking approach, and that the Magomedov rematch is a true demonstration of Yan’s ability to fight against a wrestler and grappler.
As predicted, Petr Yan put on a defensive wrestling masterclass against Aljamain Sterling.