Petr Yan vs. Marcus McGhee: Odds, full fight preview and prediction | UFC Abu Dhabi

Final Preventing Championship (UFC) Bantamweight strikers Petr Yan vs. Marcus McGhee will collide this weekend (Sat., July 26, 2025) at UFC Abu Dhabi inside Etihad Area in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Petr Yan went from being considered as one of the crucial technically expert fighters on the roster to shedding three straight bouts, the ultimate of which was a one-sided drubbing by the hands of Merab Dvalishvili. There was some dangerous luck and iffy decision-making concerned, however “No Mercy” has righted the ship with consecutive robust performances and wins over top-ranked opposition.

On the flip facet, McGhee has earned a spot within the rankings after simply 4 UFC victories. A coaching associate of Sean O’Malley, he’s demonstrated nasty kickboxing and good ending instincts to this point. At 35 years of age, it’s doubtless for the perfect that he’s receiving a giant alternative earlier than later, as his window to contend is restricted.

Let’s take a better have a look at the betting odds and strategic keys for every athlete:

Yan vs. McGhee Betting Odds

Petr Yan victory: -375
Petr Yan through TKO/KO/DQ: +450
Petr Yan through submission: +1100
Petr Yan through resolution: -185
Marcus McGhee victory: +295
Marcus McGhee through TKO/KO/DQ: +900
Marcus McGhee through submission: +2500
Marcus McGhee through resolution: +500
Odds through DraftKings Sportsbook

How Yan Wins

He might not be champion anymore, however I stand by the sentiment that Yan is without doubt one of the most expert fighters within the sport. “No Mercy” is an outrageously slick striker that works all ranges and blends his offense higher than virtually anybody. His capability to transition between combos, clinch journeys, and close-quarter weapons like knees and elbows stands alone.

There are two keys for Yan on this struggle. At the start, he can’t wait too lengthy to get going. McGhee is a high-volume fighter and can absolutely attempt to steal the primary spherical from the extra affected person Yan. If Yan falls right into a gap early in a 3 spherical struggle, he removes any margin for error and places critical strain on himself for the ultimate ten minutes.

Secondly, Yan needs to be mixing his takedowns into his assault, and that features journeys off caught kicks. We’ve but to see McGhee taken down contained in the Octagon, however his solely profession loss got here through rear bare choke in July 2022. It’s value testing whether or not or not his backside sport has improved, and even when it has, catching McGhee’s kicks and dumping him to the ground will assist minimize down on that quantity.

How McGhee Wins

McGhee arrived within the Octagon a whole fighter prepared for high-level competitors. He’s proven robust offensive wrestling and submission abilities, however he does his greatest work within the rise up. He’s a fluid kickboxer who throws together, placing out excessive numbers with good energy behind them.

9 of his ten profession victories come through stoppage.

It’s a large step up from Jonathan Martinez to Petr Yan, however some concepts stay. For instance, McGhee can’t hold again consuming kicks. Quantity and strain are going to be crucial right here, even when buying and selling with Yan within the pocket carries threat. When it comes to benefits, the obvious on the facet of McGhee is exercise. He throws loads, and Yan is thought to let rounds slip away. It needs to be a precedence for McGhee to take the opening body, which might then give him a bit extra leverage in setting traps for Yan.

In any other case, McGhee has to search out methods round Yan’s excessive guard. Hitting the physique is an apparent choice, however McGhee also needs to be trying to weave punches across the facet or slap the forearm then come straight by way of the center along with his cross. Craftiness in his combos will assist guarantee he’s hitting Yan onerous sufficient to earn the Russian’s respect and impress the judges.

Yan vs. McGhee Prediction

McGhee seems like a really proficient Bantamweight. It wouldn’t shock me to see him favored versus some Prime 10 opposition. Sadly, he’s method too unproven on the elite Bantamweight degree to justify choosing him in opposition to Yan, who remains to be performing extraordinarily nicely regardless of being a number of years faraway from his title reign.

Yan has proven a degree of talent that McGhee has but to exhibit. In equity, McGhee hasn’t been pressured to dig fairly that deep but, and this can be his alternative to take action. Till then, nonetheless, it’s troublesome to select him over the youthful and extra completed fighter.

“No Mercy” lands heavy kicks, counters, and the occasional takedown to a competitive-but-clear nod.

Prediction: Yan through resolution