Petr Yan aims for UFC 310 spot in December, wants Deiveson Figueiredo

Despite only having fought one fight in the last 17 months, former UFC champion Petr Yan is determined to return to the Octagon before the end of the year.

Yan (17-5 MMA, 9-4 UFC) ended his three-fight losing streak in March with a unanimous decision victory over Song Yadong at UFC 299, but suffered a torn ACL and meniscus that required surgery and prevented a quick return to competition.

Yan is now healthy and ready for training camp. He has applied for a spot in the last numbered event of 2024, UFC 310 on December 7 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (via X):

I want to fight on the last PPV card of the year 👊🏼

— Petr “No Mercy” Yan (@PetrYanUFC) 28 August 2024

I want to fight on the last PPV card of the year 👊🏼

If Yan, No. 5 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie bantamweight rankings, could choose an opponent, he believes a showdown with No. 11-ranked Deiveson Figueiredo, a former multiple-time flyweight champion and 3-0 since moving up to the 135-pound division, would be the best fit (via X):

Figeredo

— Petr “No Mercy” Yan (@PetrYanUFC) 28 August 2024

With most of the names between Yan and Figueiredo (24-3-1 MMA, 13-3-1 UFC) either booked, coming off a loss or on a different trajectory, the clash seems to come at just the right time for both sides.

For more information on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 310.