Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili will fight for a third time at UFC 333 on Oct. 24 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The bantamweight title is on the line in the co-main event. Both fighters hold one win in the series, and Yan enters the cage as the reigning champion.
Dvalishvili, 35, entered their previous rematch on a 14-fight winning streak overall, aiming to make history by securing a fourth title defense in a single calendar year. Now, with fight week approaching, the former champion has revealed the exact moment he realized that plan was over.
Merab Dvalishvili Pinpoints Second-Round Moment He Knew He Would Lose to Petr Yan
Dvalishvili told UFC on Paramount+ that he returned to his wrestling strategy in the second round and shot hard on Yan. Yan successfully stuffed the attempt, and Dvalishvili felt his gas tank drain in a matter of seconds, prompting an immediate mid-fight realization.
“In 10 seconds, all my energy came out and then I’m like, ‘What now? I don’t think I can take him down. I’m going to have to just fight.’ Then I was just fighting. Plan was to do whatever I want,” Dvalishvili said.
He continued to explain how his original confidence fell apart as the fight wore on, adding, “I said I can strike with him, and if I want, I can take him down. I was striking with him, he got me and then second round, I tried to take him down and I wasn’t able to. I’m like, ‘What should I do now?’ Then I was just having fun, and I’m going to enjoy the fight. I realized in the second fight, I was not going to win this fight, and I was just going to enjoy the fight.”
Yan won a clear unanimous decision at UFC 323 inside the T-Mobile Arena, sweeping the scorecards 49-46, 49-46, and 48-47 to take the bantamweight belt. Dvalishvili finished the night just 2-of-29 on takedowns after going 0-for-9 over the first two rounds.
It was a completely different fight from their first face-off in March 2023. In that original bout, Dvalishvili dominated by attempting a record 49 takedowns, while Yan defended 38 of them.
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Dvalishvili entered the 2025 rematch on the heels of three straight title defenses over Umar Nurmagomedov, Sean O’Malley, and Cory Sandhagen. Despite the shocking setback against Yan, Dvalishvili’s 119 career takedowns remain the highest total in UFC history.
Merab Dvalishvili Promises New Tools as Petr Yan Welcomes Pressure
Dvalishvili previewed the trilogy in a UFC on Paramount+ interview titled “I have tools I haven’t shown.” His game heavily relies on pace and wrestling volume, but Yan has already proven he can stop those takedowns while landing clean counters. This third fight depends on whether Dvalishvili can blend striking with his wrestling without draining his gas tank, or if Yan dictates the pace again.
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Yan is unfazed by the challenger’s strategy. Also speaking to UFC on Paramount+, the bantamweight champion welcomed the upcoming pace. “Diamonds are made under pressure,” Yan said. “We will find out who we really are when that pressure keeps coming at you and see if you are that diamond.”
Having already shared 10 rounds with Dvalishvili, Yan noted that he reads his opponent’s habits mid-fight to adjust seamlessly. Dvalishvili enters the bout at 21-5, while Yan stands at 20-5. Yan is currently in his second run as champion after avenging his past loss to Dvalishvili at UFC 323. It remains to be seen who will get the last laugh to end the trilogy.
