Petr Yan spent a month training in Kislovodsk ahead of his fight with Merab Dvalishvili, working under coach Kairat Nurmaganbetov alongside sparring partners Kurban Gadzhiev and Asaf Chopurov. The camp will continue in Dubai, where Yan will focus heavily on wrestling and sparring, with Asaf Chopurov and Sharapudin Magomedov — who helped Yan prepare for Dvalishvili's takedowns previously — set to join. Magomedov is expected to arrive after his ACB debut on September 12, while Gadzhiev will prepare for his own October 4 ACB bout in Dagestan before potentially traveling to Dubai afterward. Chopurov described the training intensity as unlike anything he had experienced, calling it "championship-level" and praising Yan's professionalism and generosity toward his sparring partners.
Bantamweight champion Petr Yan has offered an early look at his preparation for the rematch against Merab Dvalishvili, with his camp split between the Russian mountain resort city of Kislovodsk and an upcoming stint in Dubai.
Yan, 33, spent a month training in Kislovodsk under coach Kairat Nurmaganbetov, working alongside sparring partners Kurban Gadzhiev and Asaf Chopurov. The current bantamweight titleholder carries a 20-5-0 record into the bout and has established himself as one of the division's most precise strikers, landing 5.12 significant strikes per minute at an accuracy rate of 54 percent. The Russian switches stances and stands five-foot-seven with a 67-inch reach.
The Dubai phase of camp will place a heavy emphasis on wrestling and sparring — a logical priority given who Yan is preparing for. Chopurov is set to join Yan there, along with Sharapudin Magomedov, who previously helped Yan work on defending the specific takedown threats that Dvalishvili presents. Magomedov's arrival is expected after his ACB debut on September 12, while Gadzhiev will first prepare for his own ACB bout on October 4 in Dagestan before potentially making the trip to Dubai afterward.
Chopurov spoke glowingly of the training environment, describing the intensity as unlike anything he had previously experienced and labeling it "championship-level." He also praised Yan's professionalism and the generosity he shows toward his sparring partners.
The focus on wrestling is telling. Dvalishvili, ranked first in the bantamweight division and second pound-for-pound at 35 years old, is among the most relentless grapplers in the sport, averaging 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes. The Georgian carries a 21-5-0 record and trains out of the Serra-Longo Fight Team.
Why it matters
- Yan's wrestling-heavy camp signals direct preparation for Dvalishvili's elite takedown volume
- The two-phase training structure — altitude work in Kislovodsk followed by high-level sparring in Dubai — reflects the organizational depth of Yan's team
- A bantamweight title rematch between the division's champion and its top-ranked contender carries significant divisional stakes
Merab Dvalishvili vs Petr Yan
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