What happened: Marcus McGhee shared his takeaways from facing Petr Yan last summer ahead of his bout at UFC Vegas 118. He credited his teammates at the MMA Lab for sharpening his preparation, framing his mindset as measured — neither overconfident nor self-doubting.

Why it matters: The Yan fight remains a key reference point in McGhee's development, and a strong showing at UFC Vegas 118 would help him build momentum in a crowded bantamweight picture. How he applies the lessons from sharing the cage with a former champion is the throughline of his preview.

What to watch: McGhee steps into the cage at UFC Vegas 118, where a finish would strengthen his standing in the division.