Is Petr Yan the Greatest Boxer in UFC History? Promotion Seems to Think So
Ahead of his UFC 333 title trilogy with Merab Dvalishvili, the official UFC YouTube channel has paid a special tribute to the Russian.
Petr Yan faces Merab Dvalishvili in UFC 333's trilogy bout on March 27, 2025. Yan previously won their first two meetings, with the Georgian securing a decision in their March 2023 clash. In December 2025, Yan reclaimed the bantamweight title by outboxing Dvalishvili. UFC has celebrated Yan as the "Greatest Boxer in UFC History" via a lengthy video on their YouTube channel.
Yan's boxing success stems from his high guard, ability to move between orthodox and southpaw stances, and precise counterpunches. He has a 55% striking accuracy rate, landing 1,456 of his 2,652 significant strikes. Yan's 9 knockdowns at bantamweight are tied for the most in division history. While some, like Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier, have strong cases, Yan's technical fundamentals and defensive prowess make him a standout boxer. However, his lack of finishes since 2020 has left critics questioning the title.
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