Issue 151
February 2017
From: OMSK (RUSSIA)
Weight: 135LB
Team: TIGER MUAY THAI
Record: 13-1-0
What’s your idea of a great Russian fighter? You might imagine they will be skilled in all areas, ruthlessly offensive and tough as old boots.
Petr Yan fits that billing and could follow Fedor Emelianenko and Khabib Nurmagomedov as a breakout star from one of MMA’s powerhouse nations.
Grozny-based Absolute Championship Berkut has quickly become one of the world’s best sources of up-and-coming talent and it has given this Siberian the platform to improve into one of its most promising fighters in just two years as a pro.
A strong sprawl means ‘No Mercy’ is not afraid to hunt for a finish on the feet with everything from liver punches to spinning back-kicks. If he does go down, he’s active and dangerous from his back.
He’s also capable of hitting a gravity-defying hip toss to take a fight to the mat himself and dominate with grappling or punishing ground ‘n’ pound.
The only blemish in his young career so far is hardly a black mark on his record. He lost a split-decision to Magomed Magomedov at ACB 32 last April, but it was as close as it was competitive.
The pair went back and forth for five rounds, trading knockdowns and submission attempts, and Yan could count himself unlucky not to get the nod over his more experienced rival.
It was 25 minutes of chaos that was as thrilling as any of the best offerings from elsewhere in 2016 – and was eve long-listed at this Ninth Annual World MMA Awards.
Yan is one prospect that’s incredibly exciting and close to being the finished article.
3 MORE TO KEEP AN EYE ON
JARED SCOGGINS - USA
The brother of the UFC’s Justin has done pretty much whatever he wanted to opponents on the South Carolina circuit until now.
It’s time he had a step up in competition to confirm suspicion that top-level talent runs in the family.
GRANT DAWSON - USA
A loss last year might have kept ‘The Prophet’ away from the UFC, but may have been a good thing.
At just 22, a few more fights on the regional scene have allowed him to get more wins, refi ne his skills, and be better prepared for tougher tests that await in the Octagon.
SOO CHUL KIM - SKR
After an up-and-down start to his career where he was pushed too far, too soon, Road FC has become a fruitful home for this 24-year-old.
After comfortably taking out some UFC veterans, he’s shown he’s got the talent to test himself at the top level again.
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