Following his surprising title victory over Merab Dvalishvili last December, Petr Yan experienced a severe lower back injury.
After enduring three consecutive defeats that cast doubt on his UFC future, Yan managed to reclaim his momentum with three straight victories between 2024 and 2025.
These notable wins secured him a rematch against Merab Dvalishvili, and with that triumph, Yan cemented his status as the greatest bantamweight in the history of the sport.
Although Yan’s astounding comeback—dubbed “The Machine”—saw him lose the title in the December rematch as a significant underdog, the match was not without its challenges.
At UFC 324 last Saturday, two bantamweight matchups drew significant attention. Former champ Sean O’Malley rebounded from two losses to Dvalishvili by decisively defeating Song Yadong. Meanwhile, Umar Nurmagomedov secured a crucial victory over former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo, marking a key milestone in his career.
However, fans hoping for a quick return of Yan may be disappointed, as the 32-year-old Russian underwent a grueling nine-hour surgery—hip and back—this past Tuesday. Yan shared on social media, “I was under anesthesia for 9 hours. Yesterday I had back surgery. I will be back in action in a few months.”
“Suga” Sean O’Malley had aimed for a rematch with Yan at UFC’s White House event next June, but Yan’s recovery timetable now puts that bout’s timing in doubt.
Despite widespread excitement about a potential Yan vs. O’Malley rematch, former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo expressed strong opposition to the idea: “If the UFC were to do something like that (fight), I’d stop watching the sport. That would be ridiculous,” he stated recently on his podcast.
Fan Take: Petr Yan’s injury and lengthy recovery could reshape the bantamweight division’s landscape, delaying highly anticipated matchups and giving other contenders a chance to rise. For fight fans, this moment is pivotal—it tests the resilience of a top champion and could lead to a thrilling new era in the division.
