Petr Yan holds a 4-0-0 record under the UFC banner and can soon find himself becoming a top contender to the UFC Bantamweight Title.
UFC Flyweight Champion Henry Cejudo and Marlon Moraes will battle for the vacant bantamweight gold at UFC 238, which is a scenario that Yan says “kinda makes sense.”
“Since Cejudo beat T.J. at 125 and they were planning to have a rematch at 135, it kind of makes sense that Henry will fight for the vacant belt,” Yan told Bloody Elbow in an interview conducted before the title bout was announced. “Other challengers can fight for No. 1 contender spot at that time.”
Joseph Benavidez and Jussier Formiga were named as potential backups for the title fight by UFC President Dana White, leaving Yan out of the title picture for now.
Yan may not be challenging for UFC gold at the moment, but that hasn’t stopped him from wanting to move up the ranks.
“If they gave me the chance to challenge (for) the title I would (have) gladly taken it,” Yan said. “But now I’m happy to get one more win to prove I’m the next contender in line. If UFC wants me to get couple more wins I don’t mind either — as long as I’m fighting someone higher than me in the rankings.”
UFC 238 takes place on Saturday, June 8 from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois with Henry Cejudo and Marlon Moraes headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
