Yan open to featherweight move but rules out fighting friend Volkanovski

UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan has floated the idea of a future move to featherweight, but ruled out a fight with reigning 145-pound titleholder Alexander Volkanovski, citing the pair’s close friendship.

Speaking to Full Violence, Yan made clear that any weight-class change would be on his own terms. “If someone wants to move up and challenge me, it’s a question for them, not for me,” he said. “But personally, for myself, moving up sounds interesting too, maybe somewhere in the future. Just 145 pounds champ is my friend Alex Volkanovski, so I don’t want to beat him up.”

Yan (20-5) was also asked whether he would welcome a fight with flyweight champion Joshua Van should Van elect to move up to bantamweight. The Russian deflected, saying the decision to change weight classes belongs to Van and the question is therefore Van’s to answer.

The comments come as Yan prepares for a more immediate challenge. He reclaimed the bantamweight title last December with an upset victory over Merab Dvalishvili (21-5), reversing a lopsided defeat from their first meeting more than two years earlier. The two are set to settle the score in a trilogy bout at UFC 333 on October 24 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Volkanovski (28-4) will also be in action on the same card, defending his featherweight title against undefeated contender Movsar Evloev (20-0). The shared event means both champions will be ringside — though, for now at least, Yan insists that is as close as they will get to facing each other.