Dvalishvili Details Fix Ahead of Yan Trilogy at UFC 333

Merab Dvalishvili says he made the mistake of fighting Petr Yan's fight in their rematch, and he won't repeat it when the two run it back in the co-main event of UFC 333 on Oct. 24 in Abu Dhabi.

Dvalishvili took Yan down repeatedly to win a clear decision in their first meeting back in 2023. The result flipped at UFC 323, where Yan turned in a standout performance to strip Dvalishvili of the bantamweight title and stop his bid for a UFC record fourth successful title defense in a calendar year. Looking back on that loss, Dvalishvili pinpointed exactly where it went wrong.

"I think the second fight I was fighting his fight," Dvalishvili said. "I was in front of him and then exchanged the boxing, but this time I will just be myself. I think I'll be much sharper and I know I can beat this guy. He hits hard, he is good, he's shown, so it's going to be a good fight. I'm excited."

What Went Wrong for Dvalishvili at UFC 323

Dvalishvili's admission is a pretty direct one for a fighter who built a title reign on volume wrestling and relentless pressure. Trading punches with a two-time champion known for his boxing was never the blueprint that got Dvalishvili the belt in the first place, and he seems to know it. Getting back to grinding out takedowns over 25 minutes, rather than standing and trading, is the clear game plan he's signaling for the trilogy.

Yan and Dvalishvili had been angling for this third fight for a while, and it finally got locked in after Yan's return was delayed by back surgery.

Betting Angle

Sportsbooks currently have Yan as the favorite heading into the trilogy, with FanDuel pricing him around -170 and Dvalishvili out near +132 as of now. That number reflects how Yan's rematch win reshuffled the perception of this matchup, flipping Dvalishvili from the guy who dominated the first meeting into the live underdog for the third. Given that Dvalishvili is explicitly promising a return to his takedown-heavy identity rather than a rerun of the standup battle that cost him the belt, bettors weighing this line should watch how that stylistic reset plays out in fight week reporting and any further comments from camp. A fighter this self-aware about his own tactical error is worth tracking closely as the number moves.

Dvalishvili Is Already Watching the Rest of the Division

Dvalishvili made clear his focus is on Yan, but he's also tracking the shakeup below the title picture. Song Yadong's knockout of Umar Nurmagomedov and Mario Bautista's climb past Cory Sandhagen have stirred up the 135-pound rankings while the top two names sit out. Dvalishvili singled out Song Yadong as an intriguing future test, saying, "he really hits like a truck and I want to test that."

Dvalishvili also used the moment to push for his friend Aljamain Sterling to get the next featherweight title shot after Sterling's featherweight run, arguing Sterling should face the winner of the UFC 333 main event between Alexander Volkanovski and Movsar Evloev over a bout with Jean Silva.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Merab Dvalishvili vs Petr Yan 3?

Merab Dvalishvili and Petr Yan fight for the third time in the co-main event of UFC 333 on Oct. 24 in Abu Dhabi.

Who won the first two fights between Dvalishvili and Yan?

Merab Dvalishvili won a decision over Petr Yan in their 2023 meeting, and Yan won the rematch at UFC 323 to take the bantamweight title.

Who is favored in the Dvalishvili vs Yan trilogy fight?

Petr Yan is currently favored over Merab Dvalishvili heading into UFC 333, with sportsbooks like FanDuel listing Yan around -170 and Dvalishvili around +132.