“If we really talk about the three best Russian fighters, then these are Fedor, Khabib... And the third I don't even know who... Let's take Alexander Shlemenko. Oleg Nikolaevich Taktarov - it turns out he fought and lived abroad? He did not live permanently in Russia in those years, he traveled back and forth.
"But there is such a moment. I think in my own way, I'm not saying that here he is worthy, and the other is not. I see what the person did, what he left behind. Fedor gave a lot to popularize this sport. Khabib too. Oleg Nikolaevich gave a lot of popularization. Here is Shlemenko too - for me. I myself am from Siberia. In Siberia and in Russia as a whole, many branches and halls are opening. It is worthy that a person was at such a peak in sports and to this day is in this craft, somehow promotes it, leaves such a global mark," said Yan.
Yan had his last fight on December 30 at UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi, defeating Cory Sandhagen by unanimous decision.