Merab Dvalishvili says he would already know if a third fight with Petr Yan were scheduled for August or September. Hunter Campbell told him he would rematch Yan after the second bout, and Dvalishvili made himself available after a few weeks. Yan had minor surgery and recent dental work, and is currently on vacation. The UFC has ruled out an interim title, and Dvalishvili will face Yan regardless of who wins between Sean O'Malley and Umar Nurmagomedov.
Bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has indicated that his anticipated trilogy bout with Petr Yan will not land on the UFC calendar before at least October, saying he would already have been notified if a fight were being targeted for August or September.
Dvalishvili, 35, carries a 21-5 record and holds the bantamweight title as the division's top-ranked contender turned champion. The Georgian fighter out of Serra-Longo Fight Team is ranked second pound-for-pound and is one of the most relentless wrestlers in the sport, averaging 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes. He says UFC executive Hunter Campbell personally assured him a rematch with Yan would follow their second meeting, and that he made himself available within weeks of that bout.
The delay on Yan's side stems from minor surgery and recent dental work, with the Russian currently on vacation. Dvalishvili expressed no frustration with the timeline, simply noting the practical reality that no August or September date has been communicated to him.
One added layer of complexity surrounds the bantamweight title picture. Sean O'Malley, ranked fourth at 135 pounds, is set to face second-ranked Umar Nurmagomedov, and that result will determine who challenges Dvalishvili. O'Malley, a 31-year-old switch-stance striker from the United States, posts a striking accuracy of 60 percent and lands 6.05 significant strikes per minute. Nurmagomedov, 30, fights out of Russia's Eagles MMA and blends elite wrestling — 4.03 takedowns per 15 minutes — with 56 percent striking accuracy. Dvalishvili confirmed he will face whichever man emerges from that contest.
Why it matters
- The UFC has ruled out creating an interim title, meaning the division waits for Dvalishvili versus Yan III
- Rankings implications hinge on the O'Malley versus Nurmagomedov outcome, reshaping who steps in as the next challenger
- Yan's recovery timeline, not promotional scheduling, appears to be the primary factor pushing the fight beyond summer
Merab Dvalishvili vs Petr Yan
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