Aljamain Sterling has given an interesting breakdown of the fighting style of Petr Yan, including a comparison that nobody probably had on their bingo cards.
Yan is in the middle of a strong revival of the career, after he has won three straight fights, because a trio of defeats left him from the title interview on 135 pounds.
The former Bantam weight champion was the most recently in action in UFC Abu Dhabi last Saturday, where Yan Marcus McRghee defeated on the score cards to follow his triumphs from 2024 about song Yadong and Deiveson Figueiredo in style.
Among those who were impressed by 'No Mercy' was one of his former opponents who used a surprise comparison to explain what it is like to take on the relentless style of the Russian.
Aljamain Sterling explains the difficulty with combating 'boogeyman' Petr Yan
Sterling knows Yan well, because they have shared the Octagon twice. Yan was disqualified after the knee of sterling in their controversial first fight, before 'Funk Master' won through a decision in their closely disputed Rematch.
Although he is no longer part of the division, the Jamaican American still keeps an eye on the procedure at 135 pounds, and he has taken note of the recent work of Yan.
During an episode of his YouTube podcast, the weekly leftovers, sterling detailed detailed why his former double opponent is so difficult to fight, draws parallels between his forward pressure and horror-villain Jason Voorhees' pursuit of his victims in the 13th franchise.
“Yan is here all the time, in the future,” said Sterling. “You can hit him as much as you want, but if you give him an opening where he can make a clean chance … he finds it over and over with these guys. A man so, you have to hit him the f – out.
“I think Petr makes this decision every time he steps there:” I'm constantly moving forward, I'm going to walk you down, I'm going to put these punches in your face, and if I land, I will make sure that I land with impact and a kind of authority. “
“He is willing to risk his chin. I think that is the most impressive of him,” Sterling continued. “He trusts that his defense will be able to keep so that he can get a better shot than you can. That is the difference.
“What would you do with this Terminator, Jason Voorhees, you just walk down, and every time he hits you, he just comes forward? … If you can't neutralize it, he gets up again and he becomes the bogeyman you walk down.”
Aljamain Sterling sends shock wedding invitation to Petr Yan
Sterling and Yan were once bitter rivals, but with years that have passed since they were two fights, things have apparently changed.
Their new respect for each other could be seen earlier this year, when Sterling and Yan had an airy Spar while in Thailand to coach against each other at the Alf Global Reality Show.
And the couple is apparently on such friendly conditions that Sterling Yan even invited to his wedding.
“I said, brother, come to the wedding,” Sterling revealed on his podcast. “He said,” When I'm in the United States, I'll come. “