Yan vs. Dvalishvili 3 Set for UFC 333 Title Trilogy

Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili will run it back for a third time, with the UFC bantamweight title on the line in the co-main event of UFC 333.

The two have split their first two meetings, leaving the rivalry tied at 1-1 heading into the trilogy fight. That history is the entire selling point here. Nobody in the 135-pound division has given Dvalishvili the kind of problems Yan has, and nobody has pushed Yan the way Dvalishvili has either. A third fight was probably inevitable the moment the second one ended.

Why This Trilogy Matters for the Bantamweight Division

A split series at the top of a weight class almost always demands a decider, and that is exactly what UFC is booking here. With the title on the line and the two fighters even in the series, there is no real argument for either side about whose turn it is. This is as close to a true 50/50 stylistic puzzle as the bantamweight division has right now, and that is rare at the top of any UFC weight class.

The matchup itself is a clash of approaches. Dvalishvili's game is built on constant forward pressure and a wrestling-heavy pace designed to break opponents down over five rounds. Yan is the more technical counter-striker of the two, someone who looks to pick his shots and capitalize on mistakes rather than force the pace himself. Former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion Georges St-Pierre weighed in on the matchup, offering his own prediction for how the trilogy bout plays out, a sign of how much attention this fight is already drawing from inside the sport.

What Decides Yan vs. Dvalishvili 3

Discipline and decision-making late in rounds will likely decide this fight more than any single exchange. With a 1-1 series and a title on the line, neither man can afford the mental lapses that defined moments in the first two meetings. Dvalishvili needs to manage distance against a fighter who punishes committed entries, while Yan needs to avoid letting the fight turn into pure survival wrestling in the championship rounds.

Betting Angle

Expect this line to be one of the tighter ones on the UFC 333 card given how evenly the series sits on paper. Bettors who have followed the first two fights closely know this is not a matchup where recent form tells the full story, since both men have already beaten the other once. Live, round-by-round wagering may carry more value here than the pregame moneyline, given how much this fight could hinge on who adjusts first if the pace or range shifts mid-fight.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili fight for the third time?

Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili meet for a third time in the co-main event of UFC 333, with the UFC bantamweight title on the line.

What is the record between Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili?

Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili have split their first two fights, each winning once, setting up a deciding trilogy bout at UFC 333.

Who predicted the outcome of Yan vs. Dvalishvili 3?

UFC legend Georges St-Pierre shared his prediction for the Petr Yan vs. Merab Dvalishvili trilogy fight at UFC 333.