UFC Fight Night Yan vs. Figueiredo 11/23/24

Following a scintillating preliminary card slate that wrapped with three athletes punching their ticket to the UFC roster, action shifted to the main card at Galaxy Arena in Macau and continued to delight. A first-round finish for Zhang Mingyang and a massive upset by Gabriella Fernandes helped set the table for a dominant showing by pioneering Chinese female fighter Yan Xiaonan before Petr Yan wrapped up the evening with a dominant showing against Deiveson Figueiredo.

Yan (17-5) is breathing life back into his once-prosperous career. Yan won his first seven UFC fights, culminating in winning the UFC bantamweight title. It collapsed soon after. Yan lost the title to Aljamain Sterling via disqualification and -- after a short detour beating Cory Sandhagen for the interim title -- lost the rematch he was expected to win. Losses to Sean O'Malley and Merab Dvalishvili followed. Yan finds minimal comfort in losing to three UFC champions but is rejuvenated by his bounce-back win against Song Yadong in March. "I showed that I didn't give up when most people would," Yan told CBS Sports through an interpreter. "That's my mentality. That's where my mind is. Looking at our division, I believe I can beat all these guys." Yan must defeat Figueiredo to maintain his No. 3 spot in the UFC's official bantamweight rankings. He will be a sizable favorite in the betting odds when he steps inside the Octagon to do so. Reigning champion Dvalishvili previously told CBS Sports Figueiredo most deserves a title shot, high praise Yan plans to steal.

Figueiredo had ferocious power at flyweight. That power has carried well to a heavier weight class but it won't bridge the distance on Saturday. Yan might be the hardest striker at bantamweight and, unlike Figueiredo, has never been finished. Both men are familiar fighting five rounds. Figueiredo further benefits from a reduced weight cut that should improve his stamina over 25 minutes. Yan is the superior striker: producing greater output, a better strike differential and a higher percentage of strikes blocked. Figueiredo's biggest advantage over his fellow champion is his submission attacks, but Yan's wrestling is terrific. Figueiredo will have a tough time getting the fight to the ground, making it difficult to side with him. Expect Yan to pull away on the feet.