Merab Dvalishvili expects Petr Yan bout at UFC 330 in August

Merab Dvalishvili says he expects to face bantamweight champion Petr Yan at UFC 330 this August, though the bout has yet to receive official confirmation from the UFC.

Dvalishvili, known as "The Machine," enters the conversation as the division's top-ranked contender and the number-two fighter in the pound-for-pound rankings. The 35-year-old Georgian carries a record of 21-5 and trains out of the Serra-Longo Fight Team. His game is built on relentless forward pressure, averaging 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes and 4.33 significant strikes landed per minute, making him one of the most physically demanding opponents in the bantamweight division.

Yan, nicknamed "No Mercy," holds the bantamweight title with a record of 20-5. The 33-year-old Russian is a switch-stance striker who lands 5.12 significant strikes per minute at a 54 percent accuracy rate, among the sharpest outputs at 135 pounds. Standing five-foot-seven with a 67-inch reach, Yan has shown a well-rounded skill set across his career under the Archangel Michael Club banner.

Dvalishvili acknowledged that, as champion, Yan controls the timing of his return and that the August date ultimately hinges on Yan's preference. Reports also suggest the fight could land on the same card as a lightweight title defense from Islam Makhachev, though that pairing is similarly unconfirmed.

Why it matters

• A Dvalishvili-Yan matchup would be the defining bantamweight title fight of 2026, pitting the division's top contender against its champion
• Dvalishvili's elite wrestling volume against Yan's high-accuracy striking creates a compelling stylistic contrast
• Placement on a Makhachev card would give the bout a major platform, though nothing is official on either front