Petr Yan awarded Order of Merit medal by Russian government

Former UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan has been awarded the medal of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland, 2nd Class" by the Russian government. The prestigious state honor recognizes Yan's contributions to the development of physical culture and sports in Russia. Yan, who held the UFC bantamweight title and remains one of Russia's most accomplished MMA fighters, received this recognition for his achievements in combat sports. The award represents one of Russia's highest civilian honors. This announcement comes as Yan continues his career in mixed martial arts following his time as UFC champion.