UFC 333 brought the trilogy between Merab Dvalishvili and Petr Yan to an end, with the Russian walking away with his bantamweight title intact. Yan delivered an all-time performance in Abu Dhabi to beat ‘The Machine’ for the second consecutive time and take their rivalry to 2-1. It was an action-packed battle, but Yan ultimately earned a unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the fight 48-47 in his favor.
Of course, Dvalishvili had handed Yan a unanimous decision loss in March 2023 before the Russian got his revenge by dethroning the Georgian at UFC 323 last December. Now, Yan has beaten his rival once again to settle their trilogy.
While Dvalishvili comfortably took the first two rounds at UFC 333, Yan rallied to win the final three and secure the decision. However, Ilia Topuria’s immediate reaction to the result sparked some controversy, and Sean O’Malley has now called out the former two-division champion over his take on the fight.
Sean O’Malley Insists Petr Yan Clearly Beat Merab Dvalishvili in UFC 333 Trilogy
Clips circulating on social media showed Topuria watching the trilogy on television alongside a group of people. ‘El Matador’ cheered for Dvalishvili throughout the fight and even asked those watching with him who they thought would get the decision.
He asked fans, “Who watched the fight? 48-47, Yan? No. What are you saying? Who won? Merab won, yes.”
Topuria was clearly backing his friend and appeared disappointed when Bruce Buffer announced Yan as the winner. He even turned his back to the television as the official decision was revealed.
Despite the result, the Spaniard had a message for Dvalishvili. He said, “Merab, look, we’re proud of you anyways.”
Ilia Topuria’s reaction to Merab Dvalishvili’s loss to Petr Yan 💔
“48-47 Yan? Nooo. What are you saying?” https://t.co/wBXR7la8XH
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) October 24, 2026
However, Topuria’s reaction did not sit well with O’Malley, who suggested that the Spaniard’s judgment was clouded by his friendship with Dvalishvili. With many observers giving Yan the final three rounds, O’Malley questioned how Topuria could see the fight differently.
During a recent appearance on his podcast, O’Malley said, “I heard a couple people, I heard Ilia saying, ‘What fight are the judges watching?!’ I’m like, how hard did Justin Gaethje hit you?”
He added, “What fight were you watching, brother? I get it when you’re biased; it’s your boy, but that was just, they’re both savages, but Petr Yan won that fight.”
Sean O’Malley mocks Ilia Topuria’s scoring of Petr Yan vs. Merab Dvalishvili: “How hard did Justin Gaethje hit you?”
“I heard Ilia saying, ‘What fight are the judges watching?’ I’m like, How hard did Justin Gaethje hit you? What fight were you watching, brother?”
Via: @SugaSeanMMA
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) October 25, 2026
Topuria and Dvalishvili share a close bond and have consistently supported each other, partly through their shared Georgian heritage. When Topuria suffered his first MMA loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250, Dvalishvili was quick to defend his friend’s legacy, firing back at internet trolls and critics who mocked the former champion.
The pair also regularly spend time training together, including sessions at Topuria’s home base in Madrid, Spain. Given their close friendship, it is hardly surprising that Topuria wanted to see Dvalishvili get his hand raised at UFC 333.
Still, Yan’s performance made a strong case for the judges’ decision. And while Topuria was entitled to back his friend, O’Malley clearly believes that loyalty got in the way of an objective assessment of the fight.
Kshitiz Kumar Singh is a UFC Writer at NY Fights with over three years of experience in sports journalism and content creation. Known for his sharp storytelling and passion for combat sports, he has written in-depth features on stars like Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture, and Ilia Topuria. Before joining NY Fights, Kshitiz worked as a UFC Editor at EssentiallySports while currently serving as a WWE Editor at FirstSportz. His admiration for legends like Georges St-Pierre continues to inspire his detailed and engaging MMA coverage. Whether he’s covering the Octagon or the squared circle, Kshitiz is committed to delivering accurate, high-quality content. Outside the world of sports, he’s a dedicated cinephile, often found practicing monologues from his favorite Al Pacino films, combining his love for cinema with storytelling.
