Petr Yan will step into the octagon for the first time since losing the title to Aljamain Sterling. The UFC tries to escalate the situation in Yang’s (61.2 kg) division, and they do it this way: Yang fights a very brilliant fighter Sean O’Malley (“Pink Poodle” according to Yang). In the same card, the owner of the belt, which once belonged to a Russian, will be determined. The title fight will be TJ Dillashaw, a “cheater” according to Peter, and Aljamain Sterling, the current UFC champion and a “half-crazy” according to Peter Yan.
– You have said several times that a fighter must be hungry before fighting. Can you remember and compare yourself in 2016, when you fought for the DIA belt, and yourself today?
“Now I’m not fighting for the title.
We were talking about internal sensations.
– I was young in 2016, my eyes were more burning. Everything was new to you, there were big plans, thoughts. And when you come into contact with all of this, you understand what you are doing and why you are doing it.
– Dana White said the winner of your fight with O‘Mally will go to the fight for the title.
“Yes, that’s good news. But that didn’t add much motivation. In principle, we thought about it, it was planned.
– There was a question – if you call O’Malley a “pink poodle”, what will a victory over him give, is he 12th in the standings?
– Yes, I can still say it’s a pink poodle, it doesn’t change our mood for the fight, but we were aware of the news [имеет в виду слова Уайта о претендентском статусе боя]. Therefore, we are interested.
Let’s summarize. Do you have a negative point for O’Malley?
“I have nothing personal. He is just an opponent with whom we have to enter the octagon. Purely sporting moment. And that’s all.
– You updated the coaching staff again – Kairat Nurmaganbetov and Andrey Oktyabrinsky were not in training.
– Temporary changes. We are in contact with everyone, we communicate with everyone. But that’s how I decided.
– Can you explain why it was decided this way, were there any disagreements?
– There is no disagreement. Ilyas (Khamzin) was preparing for battle, and Kairat helped Ilyas get ready, and at that time I flew to Thailand, where I stayed for about 4-5 weeks. Again, we have no disagreement. Everything is fine with us.
– Who will be the third person in your corner (previously, John Hutchinson, the percussion coach, and the manager Sayat Abdrakhmanov were named second)?
– The third will be kickboxer Tolya Moiseev. So it is necessary.
– O’Malley is 10 cm taller than you, which of his training partners has imitated him in the camp?
– There was a guy Ilkhom (Naziev, 8-1 in MMA) in Thailand, also tall, who was also preparing for a fight. We worked with him.
– Everyone saw the video of you meeting Sterling in Abu Dhabi, when you shook hands. And when they flew to Abu Dhabi, they kind of imagined a meeting with him (earlier Jan called Sterling a monkey, a clown and a half-wit – something like “”.)
– I did not plan this situation. Everything happened spontaneously. We just met.
– Do you have a negative attitude towards Sterling today?
“Just today, I don’t have a negative attitude towards Sterling.
Do you believe in your third fight?
– This question is not for me, but for the UFC. I’m interested in the title. Whoever has it, I will fight with.
– Sterling fights Dillashaw: you fought one twice and “wanted to beat” the second. Who are you going to root for?
“I will not support anyone. I won’t even be able to watch this fight. After all, after my fight, there will be activities. I’m leaning towards a 50/50 chance.
– If someone in the Sterling vs. Dillashaw pair doesn’t gain weight or is taken out for some other reason, will you be willing to replace them in the title fight?
– If there is such a need, then why not?
Is the UFC believed to tell fighters such things beforehand, or is this the first time you’ve heard of such an assumption?
– For the first time, yes.
– In September, you and Anatoly Malykhin gave John Hutchinson a car. Throughout your career, you have trained with many specialists, but you have decided to give such a gift to the Irish trainer of the Thai Tiger Muay Thai club.
– And who has worked with me more than Joniboy? Last name? So we felt it was necessary. The man does the job, deserves it.
“Will your family be flying to Abu Dhabi?”
– They will arrive, they will arrive. For me, it is both a motivation and a pleasant energy. I haven’t seen them for two months. I await the arrival!
– You will hold the third fight in the United Arab Emirates. Can you say you’ll have home yard factor in your next fight with O’Malley?
– You can say that, yes.
– What do you expect from the fight between Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira?
I know Islam. I want him to win this fight. He devotes his whole life to it, has come a long way. I sincerely wish him victory. For a compatriot, for a compatriot!
Source : MatchTV
I am Sandra Jackson, a journalist and content creator with extensive experience in the news industry. I have been working in the news media for over five years. During this time, I have worked as an author and editor at various outlets producing high-quality content that attracts readers from different demographics.
