Former bantamweight champion Petr Yan faced Marcus McGhee in what might generously be called an old guard vs. new co-main event at UFC Abu Dhabi.
While old guard vs. new might be the format in terms of their respective place in the title picture and 135lb division as a whole, McGhee was actually three years the elder of Yan at 35.
Aaron Pico vs. Movsar Evloev had originally been booked as the night’s co-headliner, until Evloev was forced out.
Plenty of feints early in the UFC Abu Dhabi co-main event, with McGhee outside, and Yan walking him down, mixing in kicks. McGhee would connect with his own kick, but slip, roughly two minutes in. Yan was looking sharp, and McGhee needed to find openings that weren’t necessarily there. He did hold his own in a round that very likely went to Yan after five minutes.
Round two saw McGhee fins some success with his right hand. Less than two minutes in, however, Yan clipped the American, hurting him. McGhee stayed in it, clinched up, and fired a knee to the body. Soon, however, McGhee was backed up the fence, and showing damage. Even then, McGhee remained dangerous, firing back, firing in the pocket. Yan, however, hit the mark with another right hand, and Marcus McGhee was showing some decent damage around his right eye.
A jump knee by Yan fell short, but he was clearly flowing by the time they headed to the third. Where the pair traded leg kicks early, with Yan again hemming McGhee in against the cage. Yan looked for a takedown this time, getting a body lock in place and firing knees. McGhee would fight off the attempt, however, leading to an extended stalemate that was eating up precious time. McGhee turned in the final minute, reversing the position, but winning one small battle wasn’t going to change the tide of the fight. Instead, Yan landed a trip moments later, closing out the round and fight in control.
Official Result: Petr Yan def. Marcus McGhee by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
