Fresh off the first win of his UFC career, in Winnipeg over Jamie Siraj, bantamweight John Yannis returned on Saturday, taking on Marcus McGhee.
McGhee had last been seen losing a decision to ex-champ Petr Yan in July of last year, and had originally been expected to face Poland’s Jakub Wikłacz before Yannis stepped up to replace him.
Opening in opposite stances, Marcus McGhee took the center of the octagon early, feinting his way into range. Both fighters traded kicks to start, with John Yannis targeting the lead leg, while McGhee answered with spinning back kicks to pressure him toward the cage.
Yannis looked to get his hands going on the outside, but McGhee’s forward pressure made it difficult to find any rhythm. Staying on the gas, McGhee began opening up his boxing late in the round, clearly getting the better of the exchanges on the feet.
Round two saw McGhee pick up right where he left off, opening with a variety of kicks to the body, legs, and head. As the round progressed, the exchanges became more competitive, with Yannis gaining confidence and beginning to fire back. Still, McGhee remained a step ahead, landing the biggest shot of the fight with a clean counter right hand that wobbled Yannis late in the round.
In the third round, both bantamweights met once again in the center, trading shots to the head and body. Yannis pushed the pace early, looking to shift the momentum, but midway through the round, McGhee made a wise adjustment; opting to fight at range and avoid extended exchanges.
As the fight entered its final moments, John Yannis emptied the tank in search of a finish, pressing forward with urgency. However, McGhee’s movement and distance management kept him out of danger, allowing him to close the fight on his terms.
Reaching the judges’ scorecards, Marcus McGhee was awarded a unanimous decision victory, moving to 11-2 as a professional and 5-1 in the UFC. On the other side, John Yannis falls to 10-5, suffering his second loss with the promotion.
Official Result: Marcus McGhee def. John Yannis by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
