Merab finally opens up!! One of the most dominant champions in UFC history Merab Dvalishvili says halfway through his rematch with Petr Yan the fight was only going one way and it was not his The pair are scheduled for a trilogy as the co main event for UFC 333 with them already having spent 50 minutes in the cage Merab knew when he could not take Yan down halfway through the rematch he was in deep trouble Many fans are looking as potential GOAT status on the line for whoever gets there hand raised, do you agree?
Merab Dvalishvili has admitted that his rematch with Petr Yan turned dangerous for him midway through, with the fight heading in a direction he did not want. The two bantamweights are now scheduled to meet a third time in the co-main event of UFC 333, having already shared 50 minutes inside the cage.
Dvalishvili's account centers on a moment when he could not get Yan to the mat. Takedowns are the engine of his game, and once they stopped working, he says he knew he was in deep trouble.
That admission carries weight given how Dvalishvili usually fights. The Georgian, 35, is 21-5 and ranked first at bantamweight and second on the pound-for-pound list. He trains with the Serra-Longo Fight Team and averages 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes, a figure that defines his relentless pressure. He lands 4.33 significant strikes per minute at 42 percent accuracy, but wrestling and pace are what usually break opponents.
Yan, 33, stands at 20-5 and is the bantamweight champion. The Russian fights out of the Archangel Michael Club and works from a switch stance. His striking numbers stand out: 5.12 significant strikes landed per minute at 54 percent accuracy, well above Dvalishvili's rate. He is far less of a grappler, averaging 1.58 takedowns per 15 minutes, but his ability to defend them is exactly what caused problems for Dvalishvili in the rematch.
Why it matters
- The trilogy comes with a champion on one side and the division's top-ranked contender on the other.
- The style contrast is stark: Dvalishvili's volume wrestling against Yan's sharper, more accurate striking and takedown defense.
- Dvalishvili's own admission that the rematch slipped away from him hands Yan a psychological storyline heading into the third fight.
- Some fans see an argument for all-time bantamweight standing on the line for whoever wins the series.
With 50 minutes of shared cage time already behind them, both men know each other's habits well. The question for UFC 333 is whether Dvalishvili can solve the takedown problem that he says nearly derailed him last time.
Merab Dvalishvili vs Petr Yan
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