Petr Yan has received one of Russia’s top state decorations, being awarded the "For Merit to the Fatherland" medal by president Vladimir Putin during a ceremony inside the Kremlin.
The high-level honor, officially titled "For Merit to the Fatherland," is a Russian state decoration given for significant contributions in areas including sports. Yan, known to UFC fans as "No Mercy," is a two-time UFC Bantamweight champion.
Yan reclaimed the UFC Bantamweight title by defeating Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 323 last December. Yan and Dvalishvili have fought twice and each holds one victory, with a trilogy bout anticipated to headline a major card once Yan is medically cleared.
The former champion is currently recovering from back surgery and is expected to return to competition sometime this summer, setting the stage for his next chapter after a previous three-fight losing streak that had removed him from the title picture.
