Key Stats: 10 knockdowns landed (1st all-time among BW), 5.98 strikes landed per minute, 89.6% takedown defense (4th all-time among BW)
What It Means: A particularly malicious fighter, Yan has an eeriness about him when he is in the Octagon. Early in fights, he often sits back and makes reads while staying defensively sound. Late in the round, he might open up, but it often doesn’t happen until after the first frame. Yan’s boxing is incredibly proficient from both stances, and when he sits down on a cross, he almost always rattles his opponent. Yan’s compact frame hides his great physical strength and explosiveness, but it shows in grappling scrambles, and he has some smooth transitions and reversals when opponents shoot in on him.
Recap Moicano’s Impressive Performance At UFC 271
What to Look For in the Fight: In their first fight, Sterling started quickly, if not frantic, but Yan started to turn the tide heavily in his favor as the fight wore on, per his habit. Most had it going Yan’s way before the illegal blow that ended the night and sparked our current saga, and in the rematch, the adjustments are crucial. Sterling admitted to feeling flat on the day, so he might come out more steadily and cleaner to start. Whether Yan attempts to get off to a faster start himself is up in the air. He has the fight-ending power and the grappling game to give Sterling fits if Sterling isn’t mindful, but when “Funk Master” is on his game, he is lightning-quick when he fishes for submissions. Pace and pressure is probably the key from the outside, but Yan’s striking prowess is the biggest separation point between the two.
