Merab Dvalishvili says he would already know if a third fight with Petr Yan were scheduled for August or September. Hunter Campbell told him immediately after their last fight that they would face each other again. Dvalishvili contacted the UFC after a few weeks, but Yan underwent minor surgery and proposed fighting in June at the White House, though he appears to be taking his time recovering and recently had dental work done. The UFC confirmed there will be no interim title and that Dvalishvili will face Yan regardless of the outcome of the Sean O'Malley vs. Umar Nurmagomedov fight.
Bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili says he is still waiting on a confirmed date for a third meeting with Petr Yan, with the Russian contender's recovery from minor surgery and recent dental work slowing the timeline on what the UFC has already promised will happen.
Dvalishvili, 35, holds a 21-5 record and currently sits atop the bantamweight divisional rankings while also ranking second pound-for-pound. The Georgian fighter, who trains out of Serra-Longo Fight Team, is one of the most relentless wrestlers in the sport, averaging 6.4 takedowns per fifteen minutes. He said UFC executive Hunter Campbell told him immediately after their last fight that the trilogy would happen, and that when he followed up with the promotion a few weeks later, the hold-up was Yan's surgical recovery. Yan had proposed a June date at the White House event but appears to be taking his time getting back to full health.
The UFC has since confirmed there will be no interim title created in the meantime, and that Dvalishvili will meet Yan regardless of how the Sean O'Malley versus Umar Nurmagomedov fight resolves.
That bout brings its own divisional weight. O'Malley, ranked fourth at bantamweight, carries a 20-3 record and averages 6.05 significant strikes per minute at 60 percent accuracy, making him one of the sharpest offensive fighters in the division. Nurmagomedov, ranked second, is 20-1 and blends elite takedown output — 4.03 per fifteen minutes — with a 56 percent striking accuracy that makes him dangerous in multiple areas.
Why it matters
- Dvalishvili's title reign is in a holding pattern entirely dependent on Yan's recovery schedule
- The UFC's confirmation of no interim belt protects the champion's status regardless of the O'Malley-Nurmagomedov result
- The winner of that co-main contender fight could factor into future title picture discussions once the Yan trilogy is resolved
Merab Dvalishvili vs Petr Yan
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