Gable Steveson has publicly declared Petr Yan the best fighter currently competing in the UFC. The endorsement from the Olympic gold medalist and WWE talent adds notable outside recognition to Yan's standing in the sport.
Olympic gold medalist and WWE performer Gable Steveson has publicly named Petr Yan the best fighter currently competing in the UFC, giving the Russian bantamweight champion a notable endorsement from outside the sport's usual circles.
Yan, known as "No Mercy," holds a 20-5-0 professional record and is the current UFC Bantamweight Champion at 33 years old. The Russia-born fighter trains out of the Archangel Michael Club and competes out of a switch stance. Standing five-foot-seven with a 67-inch reach, Yan has built his reputation on a well-rounded and aggressive style, landing 5.12 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 54 percent, while also averaging 1.58 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Steveson, 26, is a decorated combat sports figure in his own right. The American stands six-foot-one and earned an Olympic gold medal in wrestling, a credential that lends credibility to his eye for elite athletic ability. He has no professional MMA record on file.
Why it matters
- Yan's bantamweight title already places him among the UFC's elite, and outside recognition from a credentialed wrestling background reinforces that standing.
- Steveson's amateur wrestling pedigree means his praise carries more weight than a typical celebrity endorsement, particularly regarding Yan's grappling credentials.
- The comment adds to the broader conversation around Yan's place in pound-for-pound discussions across the sport.
