Dana White Takes Big Risk to Offer Petr Yan a Lifeline Before UFC Macau

The winds of change are sweeping through the UFC. While some fighters find themselves bidding farewell, others like former bantamweight champion Petr Yan have been extended a lifeline from UFC CEO Dana White. ‘No Mercy’ has been on a rough road recently, losing 3-fights in a row before finally pulling off a unanimous decision win over Song Yadong at UFC 299.

However, during the fight, he tore his meniscus, ruptured his ACL, and suffered a groin injury as well. Now, as he gears up to return to action at UFC Macau or UFC on ESPN+ 106, the former champion shared a massive update on social media which has left the fans buzzing about what the future holds for the no. 3 ranked bantamweight contender!

Dana White puts his faith in Petr Yan with a new contract as UFC undergoes multiple cuts recently  

In a recent post shared on X, Petr Yan stated, “Today I signed new contract with ufc. 3 more years of hard work ahead.” Hard work indeed, as the former champion prepares to face Deiveson Figueiredo in a pivotal showdown at UFC Macau on November 23. The stakes couldn’t be higher, as Yan hasn’t fought since March this year, and the injuries from that fight have kept him out of action till now.

But on one hand, Yan’s contract extension signals faith in a fighter who, despite setbacks, remains one of the division’s most dangerous competitors. On the other, Dana White’s latest roster purge demonstrates his willingness to make tough calls. According to recent reports, the UFC has bid goodbye to multiple fighters, including much-hyped heavyweight Robelis Despaigne and top-10 flyweight Matheus Nicolau.

Despaigne entered the UFC with an Olympic pedigree and a record-breaking 87-inch reach but failed to deliver consistency and lost back-to-back fights. Nicolau, a skilled technician with notable wins, also couldn’t stop a three-fight skid that led him to exit the promotion despite being ranked at the top of the flyweight division at the time.

Yan’s journey also has been far from smooth. Once the kingpin of the 135-pound division, his 3-straight losses to Merab Dvalishvili, Sean O’Malley, and Aljamain Sterling have led to a lot of questions about what his return will look like. Because standing in his way at UFC Macau will be Deiveson Figueiredo, a former flyweight champion, who has looked unstoppable since moving up to bantamweight in late 2023.

Dana White’s gamble on Petr Yan’s new contract underscores the ever-present tension in MMA—risk and reward, legacy and opportunity. Because a win over ‘No Mercy’ would catapult Figueiredo into the title conversation, and he’s already got a plan in mind to put on a show at UFC Macau!

Figueiredo believes he has “more weapons” than Yan inside the Octagon  

The UFC is packing its bags and heading back to Macau. For the first time in more than a decade, the roar of the Octagon will echo through China’s ‘Vegas of the East’ on November 23, for the first time since August 2014. The event will be headlined by a highly-anticipated bout between Petr Yan and Deiveson Figueiredo.  

A win here could inch the Brazilian closer to the coveted title in a second weight class—a feat only a few in UFC history have accomplished. In a recent interview with Sherdog, the former flyweight king confessed, “I’ll get into the Octagon, and I’ll prove I’m the better fighter. I want to go for the [bantamweight] belt.”

But is he worried about the challenge Petr Yan poses inside the cage? The Brazilian stated, “We’ve studied him extensively. His game is full of holes. He doesn’t come from wrestling or jiu-jitsu. He likes to strike. I am a striker. We’re confident the fight will play out on the feet. I have many more weapons. I’ll be using them all against him.”

The stakes couldn’t be higher for both fighters, as a victory would propel Figueiredo into title contention while cementing his legacy in two weight classes, while Yan looks to get back to his winning ways. Will Petr Yan bounce back from his injuries and re-pay Dana White for his trust with a memorable performance, or will Figueiredo’s confidence and versatile striking style prove too much to handle? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!