Translated by me from source:
https://www.sports.ru/tribuna/blogs/mmardoboi/2807901.html
About congratulations, comparisons with Khabib and next champs.
Slightly over one week ago Petr Yan became the second ever UFC champ from Russia. He KOd Jose Aldo during a Fight Island event, came back home and awaits his family: his wife and two sons will arrive in a few days.
In the meantime – realizing his achievement, replies to the hundreds of messages and calls and a new desire to train. In the interview Yan speaks of his pre-fight injury, next opponents and new champs from Russia.
“As many missed calls as I have contacts”
- A week has passed since the fight. How are you?
- I’m OK but already want to return to training. Tired of resting. Time to get back to work.
- How many missed calls and messaged did you have on the morning of 12 July?
- As many missed calls as I have contacts. Of course there was a lot of congrats. That’s how we have it: a message in IG, a message on the phone, if no reply – then I get a call, but if I do reply then I get another three messages. It’s pleasant. But I understand that after the fight I can’t sit for 3-4 hrs and respond to all. Trying to do it bit by bit.
- You mean you’re still going through the messages?
- Didn’t even do it properly yet, maybe 30% done.
- The title is a turning point for every athlete. Can you say that something changed right now: in you or around you?
- I wouldn’t say so. Perhaps in some aspects I am changing my approach. My approach to media for example. I don’t want too much talk and popularity. I don’t need it.
- But if some awesome journal or huge TV channel asks you, you can’t refuse, right? The interview is beneficial for you as an athlete.
- I will speak with those, whom I have spoken to. You were one, a few other guys. Otherwise they’d write to me every day. To speak every day? But they all write and ask the same things. I understand that the topic is limited, not much more to ask about. But I know up front what they’ll ask and answer.
- What will I ask about next then?
- Go ahead and ask, I have an answer ready.
- Were you morally ready for the championship?
- I trusted in my skills, believed that I can’t let this chance slip away. I was ready for the victory. Of course there was pressure. This is the belt, the UFC title fight, the opponent is very dangerous, he can knock me out in any round. Aldo is a heavy hitter: I trained with him, I know this. This was the most dangerous opponent of my career. But I told myself: if you can’t beat him, what were you even thinking, what belt? I had to win.
“Sterling deserves the title shot and I will accept a fight against anyone”
- You spoke and trained with Aldo before the fight but how about after?
- We exchanged a few words in the octagon, shook hands, I did not see him later. My corners saw him during breakfast, and I saw his team. His coach and a few guys came to me and congratulated.
- Russian fans has this trait: whenever our guys beat anyone, they call the defeated opponent “washed up”.
- That’s normal. Anyone who knows the sport does not think like this. Those who say this often don’t get the drift.
- I read that you fought with a broken bone. True?
- Not broken but I had an ankle injury. The last 3 weeks I spared the leg, didn’t work it, trained with care. If you saw, I kicked with the right only twice – to the head. But overall, it did not hinder me: I knew what I could do and what I could not.
- Is there a risk that the commission won’t let you fight with such injuries?
- Maybe, if you limp too much. But this case: they looked, asked, checked my temperature. I gave them an MRT and medical papers. They assess the general state, do a squat and pushup and that’s that.
- Are you going to set the terms to the org and choose opponents or will you take anyone the UFC gives you?
- I just need a good and interesting fight. Dana White was asked about Sterling on the last press conference. He didn’t respond as he knows that Aljamain is not that interesting for them in terms of popularity. They have more promising plans: Garbrandt with his story, Cejudo, maybe someone else.
I think that everything can change. No doubt, Sterling deserves the title shot. And I will take a fight against anyone. Ideally to have a bout in December: no reason to hurry now. I have a desire (to fight) but my team tells me not to hurry and look at the situation from the side.
“There were talks that coming out with the flag may cause visa issues. I didn’t want to think about it: took the flag and went”
- Recently the new FW champ Deiveson Figueiredo said that he is ready to go up to your weight class to get a second title.
- Well, let him, what can I say? I have Brazilians under my belt, that’s gonna be another.
- How do you feel about this champion weight class jumping? It holds up two divisions.
- Yes, it does but these guys want to make history, take two belts. If the company management allows this, then it is interesting for the org. It brings a lot of attention to the bout. So if Figueiredo wants it and they give him the opportunity – let him come, it’s interesting.
- All week you are being compared to Khabib.
- The question was asked a few times, I responded that we are different, we have different stories. I respect him as a champion and an athlete but we are different people. How are they comparing us?
- For example, how fast you took the title and the Russian flag (in the cage)?
- First point: I had it thus, he had it otherwise, the end result is the same. Second point: this is everyone’s personal matter, flag or no flag. Before there were talks that coming out with the flag may cause visa issues. I didn’t want to think about it: I took the flag and went.
- Now in Russia we could get new champs: Zabit Magomedsharipov on the horizon, Askar Askarov got into the top 4. What do you think, will they win titles?
- I think so. Askar can win a belt, Zabit has all the chances. I think either way someone will.
