Merab Dvalishvili says he will wait for Petr Yan trilogy fight

Merab Dvalishvili has publicly declared his intention to hold out for a trilogy bout against bantamweight champion Petr Yan, signaling he has no interest in moving on to other opponents in the 135-pound division.

Dvalishvili, 35, enters the conversation as the No. 1-ranked bantamweight contender and the No. 2-ranked fighter pound-for-pound. The Georgian wrestler out of Serra-Longo Fight Team carries a 21-5 record and has built his reputation on relentless pressure and an elite takedown game, averaging 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes. He fires at a pace of 4.33 significant strikes per minute, making him one of the most exhausting opponents in the division to face over three or more rounds.

Yan, meanwhile, holds the bantamweight title and a 20-5 record. The 33-year-old Russian, known as "No Mercy," is regarded as one of the sharpest strikers in the weight class, landing 5.12 significant strikes per minute at a 54 percent accuracy rate. He stands five-foot-seven with a 67-inch reach and fights out of a switch stance, giving him adaptability on the feet that complements his technical boxing base.

Why it matters

• Dvalishvili is the division's top contender, making this trilogy a natural title fight rather than a voluntary defense for Yan.
• Their two previous meetings have established a deep rivalry, and a third fight carries significant stakes for the bantamweight title picture.
• The stylistic contrast is stark — Dvalishvili's wrestling-driven volume approach against Yan's precise, high-accuracy striking — ensuring another compelling competitive matchup.

Whether the UFC moves to book the trilogy or steers Yan toward a different challenger remains to be seen, but Dvalishvili has made his preference unmistakably clear.