UFC 251: Petr Yan destined to be world champ from day one, says coach – now comes moment of truth for ‘No Mercy’
- Six years ago Russia’s Yan turned up at Tiger Muay Thai in Phuket and couldn’t even communicate with boxing coach John Hutchinson – ‘but we didn’t need it’
- ‘I wrote down in my notes from that day that he’d be world champion and I actually showed him that here in Abu Dhabi to remind him how far he has come’
Russian bantamweight Petr Yan chose “No Mercy” as his fight name and after six fights in the UFC fans are joined in agreement that it is “no wonder” he did just that.
The 27-year-old from Yekaterinburg has been ruthlessly clinical, going about his business with the minimum of fuss and remaining unbeaten as he has marched – inexorably – towards a title tilt. That now comes against a walk-in future Hall of Famer in the Brazilian veteran and former featherweight champ Jose “Junior” Aldo (28-6) at UFC 251 on Sunday.
In the lead-up to the event Yan (14-1) has appeared, as always, focused and calm and collected, despite the disruptions the Covid-19 pandemic has laid before fighters, as it has the wider world.
“Even if I had no training I would come here and my motivation would be enough [to win],” Yan told international media at the UFC’s virtual media day.
Yan said he was “focused” and he was “happy” but you are always left with the feeling he’d much rather be pounding the pads than answering any questions about his craft.
