Marcus McGhee
The Maniac
USA
Suffers first UFC defeat
McGhee lost to Petr Yan via unanimous decision (28-29, 28-29, 28-29) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Abu Dhabi.
ANALYSIS
With all due respect to the likes of Jonathan Martinez, Gaston Bolanos, JP Buys and Journey Newson, this was a massive step up in competition for McGhee in facing a two-time former UFC Bantamweight Champion. While he was by no means overwhelmed, he pretty cleared showed not to be on the level of Yan. McGhee's best round was predictably the first. Yan is a notorious slow starter. As the bout progressed, Yan found his range and Marcus began to slow. Not by much, but when you're facing one of the best in the world, they will take advantage of any drop off whatsoever. Given McGhee's age (35) and relative inexperience as a pro (12 fights), this can be viewed as a positive performance despite the loss.
With all due respect to the likes of Jonathan Martinez, Gaston Bolanos, JP Buys and Journey Newson, this was a massive step up in competition for McGhee in facing a two-time former UFC Bantamweight Champion. While he was by no means overwhelmed, he pretty cleared showed not to be on the level of Yan. McGhee's best round was predictably the first. Yan is a notorious slow starter. As the bout progressed, Yan found his range and Marcus began to slow. Not by much, but when you're facing one of the best in the world, they will take advantage of any drop off whatsoever. Given McGhee's age (35) and relative inexperience as a pro (12 fights), this can be viewed as a positive performance despite the loss.
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Former champion scheduled
McGhee is scheduled to compete against Petr Yan in a bantamweight fight at UFC Abu Dhabi on July 26, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
With a win over Yan, McGhee has an opportunity to become one of the UFC bantamweight division's top-three contenders. Not only is Yan a former champion in the division, he is also ranked No. 3 in it. But even though Yan took several steps back since his title loss, he has been on better as of late, with consecutive wins featuring a late-2024 victory over former UFC Flyweight Champion Deiveson Figueiredo.
With a win over Yan, McGhee has an opportunity to become one of the UFC bantamweight division's top-three contenders. Not only is Yan a former champion in the division, he is also ranked No. 3 in it. But even though Yan took several steps back since his title loss, he has been on better as of late, with consecutive wins featuring a late-2024 victory over former UFC Flyweight Champion Deiveson Figueiredo.
Remains perfect in UFC
McGhee defeated Jonathan Martinez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) at UFC 309 on Saturday in New York City.
ANALYSIS
Many were surprised McGhee found himself a slight (-120) betting favorite against a talented, well-respected veteran in Martinez. For the most part, he held up his end of the bargain. Marcus dominated for the first two rounds, easily getting the better of Martinez in what was essentially a sparring match. The lone negative was that he absorbed a handful of leg kicks which left him severely hampered in Round 3. McGhee may have been in serious trouble if Martinez floored the gas pedal and tried to get him out of there, but he didn't, and Marcus was able to hobble his way to a decision victory. McGhee has some things to clean up, but the 34-year-old Arizona native is now a perfect 4-0 to begin his UFC run.
Many were surprised McGhee found himself a slight (-120) betting favorite against a talented, well-respected veteran in Martinez. For the most part, he held up his end of the bargain. Marcus dominated for the first two rounds, easily getting the better of Martinez in what was essentially a sparring match. The lone negative was that he absorbed a handful of leg kicks which left him severely hampered in Round 3. McGhee may have been in serious trouble if Martinez floored the gas pedal and tried to get him out of there, but he didn't, and Marcus was able to hobble his way to a decision victory. McGhee has some things to clean up, but the 34-year-old Arizona native is now a perfect 4-0 to begin his UFC run.
Slated to take on Martinez
McGhee will face Jonathan Martinez in a bantamweight fight at UFC 309 on Nov. 16, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
McGhee has been on a roll of late and enters this contest having won each of his last three fights -- the most recent one was via TKO against Gaston Bolanos in January this year. Even though he faces a tough challenge in Martinez, who has gone 6-1 across his last seven fights, there's no question McGhee is on a roll as well and carrying decent momentum. McGhee has a 3-0 record at the UFC level in his career.
McGhee has been on a roll of late and enters this contest having won each of his last three fights -- the most recent one was via TKO against Gaston Bolanos in January this year. Even though he faces a tough challenge in Martinez, who has gone 6-1 across his last seven fights, there's no question McGhee is on a roll as well and carrying decent momentum. McGhee has a 3-0 record at the UFC level in his career.
Third straight stoppage win
McGhee defeated Gaston Bolanos via TKO (strikes) at 3:29 of Round 2 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
He's only three fights into his UFC run, so we don't want to get ahead of ourselves, but the company might have found something in McGhee. This was his third straight stoppage victory since arriving, and it was once again another dominating performance -- one that would earn him a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus. McGhee has no holes in his game. He has power, a solid grappling game and excellent fight IQ. He easily dominated Bolanos, a noted striker, on the feet. Typically having only nine pro fights under your belt at age 33 is a bad thing, but McGhee certainly has less damage to his body than your typical aging fighter, and you know he's getting elite training on a daily basis while working with the guys at the MMA Lab in Arizona.
He's only three fights into his UFC run, so we don't want to get ahead of ourselves, but the company might have found something in McGhee. This was his third straight stoppage victory since arriving, and it was once again another dominating performance -- one that would earn him a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus. McGhee has no holes in his game. He has power, a solid grappling game and excellent fight IQ. He easily dominated Bolanos, a noted striker, on the feet. Typically having only nine pro fights under your belt at age 33 is a bad thing, but McGhee certainly has less damage to his body than your typical aging fighter, and you know he's getting elite training on a daily basis while working with the guys at the MMA Lab in Arizona.
Gets his shot at Bolanos
McGhee will take on Gaston Bolanos in a bantamweight matchup at UFC Vegas 83 on January 13, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
This pair was originally scheduled to throw down in August, but Bolanos was forced to withdraw due to an unspecified issue. McGhee went on to defeat JP Buys as a heavy favorite and improve to 2-0 in the UFC and 8-1 as a professional. Both of those wins ended with Performance of the Night bonuses, so McGhee will look to keep that streak going against an opponent who last fought in April -- a debut victory over Aaron Phillips.
This pair was originally scheduled to throw down in August, but Bolanos was forced to withdraw due to an unspecified issue. McGhee went on to defeat JP Buys as a heavy favorite and improve to 2-0 in the UFC and 8-1 as a professional. Both of those wins ended with Performance of the Night bonuses, so McGhee will look to keep that streak going against an opponent who last fought in April -- a debut victory over Aaron Phillips.