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With UFC 280 just days away, Petr Yan explained expects to bulldoze through Sean O'Malley, he also revealed what will give him the edge in their clash this weekend.
Despite being the clear favorite, the Russian has come under some criticism from a number of fans who believe he struggles against fighters who know how to use their range and length against him. 'Sugar' is one of the best at managing distance and will be hoping to utilize his long reach against 'No Mercy' on October 22.
During a recent interview, Petr Yan discussed his upcoming bout against Sean O'Malley. He claimed that he plans to channel his inner Mike Tyson and use his raw power to knock the 27-year-old out:
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"You know, Mike Tyson always had taller and bigger opponents all his fight career. This Saturday night, I'm gonna be faster, stronger, you know. I have my punching power, so that's enough. Yes Indeed [I plan on slipping inside and letting the big hooks go], and adding to that, I can wrestle, I have elbows, kicks, everything."
Although nothing has been made official, the winner of the bantamweight bout on Saturday could very well be the frontrunner for a shot at the 135lbs title. Sean O'Malley has the chance to shock the world and silence all the doubters when he faces the dangerous Russian, ranked ten places above him in the bantamweight division.
Check out what Petr Yan had to say in the video below:
Petr Yan's UFC knockout history
Petr Yan came to the UFC with a lot of expectations. Before making his UFC debut in 2018, he was the ACB (now ACA) bantamweight champion. Yan carried over his his winning ways from the Absolute Championship Berkut.
In his first appearance in the octagon, the 29-year-old scored a TKO win over Teruto Ishihara after a display of high-level striking. It took the Russia-native just two more fights to secure a second finish, this time with a doctor stoppage.
His next knockout occurred during his sixth UFC outing, one of his most notable finishes to date. Petr Yan caught Urijah Faber with a highlight reel head kick early into the third round at UFC 245, earning himself a title shot. His final and most prestigious KO win came against the legendary Jose Aldo for the UFC bantamweight strap.
Check out Yan vs. Aldo below:
