TLDR
- Marcus McGhee says the UFC has pushed him back since losing to Petr Yan in 2025
- McGhee went 4-0 in the UFC before the Yan loss, which remains his only defeat in the promotion
- He questions why he’s fighting unranked opponents while other fighters get bigger matchups
- Yan went on to win the bantamweight title after defeating McGhee
- McGhee returns Saturday at UFC 332 against Bernardo Sopai
Sources: yardbarker.com | sherdog.com
Marcus McGhee believes the UFC has deliberately held him back since his loss to Petr Yan last year. The bantamweight fighter says the promotion changed his matchmaking after what became the biggest test of his career.
McGhee started his UFC run with four straight wins before facing Yan in 2025. Yan won by unanimous decision in a fight that marked a clear step up in competition for McGhee.
The loss proved costly for McGhee’s career trajectory. Yan captured the bantamweight title from Merab Dvalishvili in his next fight, proving McGhee had faced a future champion.
Marcus McGhee expresses frustration with the lack of activity and admits the Petr Yan matchup might have played a part
“I feel like it’s hindered me. Talbott is on this card, Barcelos fought last week, there’s guys available. I feel like I’ve been pushed back since that fight” pic.twitter.com/vkZ0wLqHvG
— FULL SEND MMA (@full_send_mma) September 29, 2026
Fighter Questions Recent Opponents
McGhee returned to the win column in June against John Yannis. But he questions why the UFC matched him with an unranked opponent who now holds a 1-2 record in the promotion.
“I just think that the UFC decides who they want to fight and who they don’t want to fight,” McGhee told Full Send MMA. “But I do feel like they have been pushing me back since that fight.”
The fighter pointed to other bantamweights receiving better opportunities. He noted that Payton Talbott is co-headlining UFC 332, the same card where McGhee competes lower on the lineup.
McGhee also mentioned Raoni Barcelos headlining UFC Vegas 121 last weekend. He believes ranked opponents are available but the promotion has kept him away from higher-level competition.
“Seems like it hindered me,” McGhee said. “There’s plenty of guys that are available, but they make their matchups for whatever reason they make their matchups.”
UFC 332 Return Against Sopai
McGhee returns Saturday at UFC 332 against Bernardo Sopai. He admits he accepted the matchup primarily to stay active rather than wait for a bigger fight.
Sopai enters the bout with a 13-3 record. McGhee now holds an 11-2 overall record with the Yan fight marking his only UFC loss.
The fighter says he plans to keep winning regardless of who the UFC puts in front of him. He hopes continued victories will eventually lead to better matchmaking opportunities.
“I’m gonna keep doing my job, keep showing up, keep winning these fights,” McGhee said. He expressed frustration with his recent level of activity and the quality of opponents offered.
McGhee went undefeated in his first four UFC appearances before the Yan setback. Those wins helped build momentum that he believes the promotion has failed to maintain.
The bantamweight division features several ranked fighters McGhee believes he could face. However, he says the UFC has chosen a different path for him since the loss to Yan.
McGhee fights Sopai on Saturday at UFC 332, looking to build a winning streak that might force the promotion to reconsider his matchmaking. His performance could determine whether he receives the higher-ranked opponents he’s been requesting.
