Merab Dvalishvili waiting on Petr Yan to set trilogy date

Bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has made clear that a trilogy bout with Petr Yan is coming, but the timing is out of his hands while Yan recovers from recent minor surgery and dental work and takes time away on vacation.

Dvalishvili, 35, holds a 21-5 record and sits atop the bantamweight divisional rankings, also slotting in at number two in the pound-for-pound standings. The Georgian fighter out of Serra-Longo Fight Team is one of the division's most relentless pressers, averaging 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes to go along with 4.33 significant strikes landed per minute. He indicated that UFC executive Hunter Campbell informed him directly after their last fight that Yan would be his next opponent, and he noted that if the trilogy were already targeted for August or September, he would have been notified by now.

The UFC has confirmed it will not create an interim title in the meantime. Dvalishvili is set to face Yan regardless of the outcome of the upcoming Sean O'Malley versus Umar Nurmagomedov contest, which will determine who holds the number four and number two spots in the division respectively heading into that fight.

O'Malley, the 31-year-old American out of MMA Lab, carries a 20-3 record and is among the most prolific strikers in the weight class, landing 6.05 significant strikes per minute at a 60 percent accuracy rate. Nurmagomedov, 30, represents Russia and Eagles MMA with a 20-1 record, blending sharp striking at 56 percent accuracy with a strong grappling attack that produces 4.03 takedowns per 15 minutes.

Why it matters

• The bantamweight title picture is on hold until Yan is healthy and available
• No interim belt means the division stays consolidated around Dvalishvili
• The O'Malley versus Nurmagomedov result will shape rankings but not alter the champion's path
• Yan's timeline coming off surgery and vacation remains the key variable