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UFC Abu Dhabi: Robert Whittaker versus Reinier de Ridder continues on the prelims with a fight between Petr Yan and Marcus McGhee within the bantamweight division on Saturday. Check out our UFC odds series for our Yan-McGhee prediction and pick.
Petr Yan (18-5) snapped a two-fight skid by outpointing Song Yadong over three rounds, then built on that momentum with a hard-fought unanimous decision victory against Deiveson Figueiredo last November. Now, Yan sets his sights on surging contender Marcus McGhee aiming to reassert his place among the many bantamweight elite this weekend.
Marcus McGhee (10-1) continued her impressive rise by outstriking Jonathan Martinez for a unanimous decision in her last fight, just months after ending Gastón Bolaños with a highlight-reel TKO in Round 2. Now, McGhee looks so as to add a signature win over former champ Petr Yan this Saturday in Abu Dhabi.
Listed below are the UFC Abu Dhabi Odds, courtesy of DraftKings.
UFC Abu Dhabi odds: Petr Yan-Marcus McGhee odds
Petr Yan: -360
Marcus McGhee: +285
Over 2.5 rounds: -360
Under 2.5 rounds: +260
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Why Petr Yan will win
- Last Fight: (W) Deiveson Figueiredo – DEC
- Last 5: 2-3
- Finishes: 8 (7 KO/TKO/1 SUB)
Petr Yan is primed to show back Marcus McGhee because of his unparalleled experience at the best level of MMA and his technically sound, high-IQ approach contained in the Octagon. As a former UFC bantamweight champion, Yan has faced elite competition for years, developing a status for precise striking, clinical footwork, and an ironclad defense.
His ability to adapt midfight and exploit an opponent’s tendencies gives him a serious edge over McGhee, whose UFC résumé remains to be light on top-tier competition.
Yan’s game plan normally revolves around a measured approach early, allowing him to read his opponent and methodically ramp up pressure as fights progress. Against a quick starter like McGhee, who relies on heavy hands and early surges, Yan’s composed defense and body work can quickly sap the newcomer’s energy.
Yan lands at a 54% striking accuracy and absorbs just over 4 significant strikes per minute, evidence of his efficiency and resilience in high-stakes exchanges.
While McGhee possesses knockout power and robust takedown defense, Yan’s durability and supreme boxing should allow him to take over once the opening-round storm is weathered. As McGhee inevitably slows, Yan’s pace, combos, and relentless body attacks will wear him down, paving the way in which for an additional statement win and keeping Yan firmly within the title conversation.
Why Marcus McGhee will win
- Last Fight: (W) Jonathan Martinez – DEC
- Last 5: 5-0
- Finishes: 9 (8 KO/TKO/1 SUB)
Marcus McGhee’s best likelihood at upsetting former champion Petr Yan lies in his surging momentum and highly technical, high-output striking. Over the past 12 months, McGhee has ramped up his activity contained in the Octagon, now landing 6.06 significant strikes per minute—an elite number for the bantamweight division.
His volume, variety, and skill to interrupt down opponents with relentless head strikes sets him aside from many recent Yan challengers.
McGhee pairs output with remarkable efficiency on defense: he absorbs just 2.83 significant strikes per minute while boasting a 64% strike defense rate and flawless 100% takedown defense. This mixture allows him to dictate where the fight takes place and frustrate attempts to take the motion to the mat, forcing Yan to trade at a relentless pace he hasn’t faced in recent times.
If McGhee can weather Yan’s counters early and avoid the grinding clinch sequences, his combination of output, defense, and ending instincts make this the right opportunity for a career-defining win in Abu Dhabi.
Final Petr Yan-Marcus McGhee prediction & pick
Petr Yan vs. Marcus McGhee is a classic test of proven elite experience against surging momentum within the bantamweight division. Yan, with a championship pedigree and a legacy of battling the perfect within the UFC, boasts exceptional boxing, strategic adaptations, and an iron will that has carried him through five-round wars.
His technical precision, defense, and skill to wear down opponents over the course of a fight make him a favourite to regulate the tempo, especially within the later rounds.
McGhee, nonetheless, rides a wave of confidence, offering high volume and defensive sharpness which have set him aside from a lot of Yan’s previous challengers. His striking output, combined with athletic movement and flawless takedown defense, make him a legitimate threat, able to pushing the previous champ into uncomfortable territory.
Ultimately, this bout hinges on whether McGhee can maintain his furious early pace and break through Yan’s seasoned composure. The sting leans barely to Yan, whose experience and skill to outlast explosive starters may allow him to brush the latter rounds for a narrow decision win.
Final Petr Yan-Marcus McGhee Prediction & Pick: Petr Yan (-360), Over 2.5 Rounds (-360)
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