Merab Dvalishvili stated that if his third fight with Petr Yan were scheduled for August or September, he would already know about it. Hunter Campbell told him the night of his recent Yan fight that they would rematch, and Dvalishvili signaled his readiness weeks later. Yan underwent a minor surgery and dental work and is currently on vacation. The UFC has confirmed no interim title will be created, and Dvalishvili will face Yan regardless of who wins between Sean O'Malley and Umar Nurmagomedov.
Bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has pushed back on speculation that his trilogy bout with Petr Yan is imminent, saying that if the fight were scheduled for August or September, he would already be aware of it.
Dvalishvili, 35, holds a 21-5 record and currently sits at number one in the bantamweight rankings as well as number two in the pound-for-pound standings. The Georgian fighter, who trains out of Serra-Longo Fight Team, is one of the division's most relentless wrestlers, averaging 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes. He signaled his readiness to run it back with Yan just weeks after their most recent meeting, following a conversation with UFC executive Hunter Campbell on fight night in which a rematch was discussed.
The timeline on that rematch remains unclear, in part because Yan recently underwent minor surgery and dental work and is currently on vacation.
The UFC has confirmed no interim title will be created in the division while Dvalishvili waits. He is also set to face Yan regardless of what happens in the upcoming bout between Sean O'Malley and Umar Nurmagomedov, making the outcome of that fight a matter of positioning rather than championship implications for the champion himself.
O'Malley, ranked fourth at bantamweight, carries a 20-3 record and is among the most accurate strikers in the division, landing 6.05 significant strikes per minute at 60 percent accuracy. The 31-year-old American switches stances and stands five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach.
Nurmagomedov enters that contest ranked second in the division at 20-1. The 30-year-old Russian is a well-rounded threat, landing 3.86 significant strikes per minute at 56 percent accuracy while also averaging 4.03 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Dvalishvili's rematch with Yan is confirmed in principle but has no official date
- The UFC has ruled out creating an interim title, protecting Dvalishvili's status
- The O'Malley vs. Nurmagomedov result will shape the division's contender landscape without altering the champion's next assignment
Merab Dvalishvili vs Petr Yan
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