Merab Dvalishvili vows to avenge Petr Yan defeat and reclaim UFC title in Abu Dhabi

Merab Dvalishvili, the former bantamweight champion, is eager to avenge his defeat to Petr Yan and reclaim his UFC title in Abu Dhabi. Known for his relentless work ethic inside the octagon and his playful nature outside, Dvalishvili had a busy 2025, defending his title four times. His previous victories included a unanimous decision over Umar Nurmaogomedov, a beautiful north-south choke submission of Sean O’Malley, and a five-round war with Corey Sandhagen, which saw him tie with Aljamain Sterling for the most successful title defenses by a bantamweight.

However, Dvalishvili's decision to immediately rematch Yan, just two months after their first encounter, proved to be a miscalculation. Yan, who vowed to improve since their first fight, executed a relentless boxing strategy, exceptional takedown defense, and powerful body shots, ultimately prevailing on all three judges' scorecards.

Dvalishvili admitted that his overexertion and lack of smart preparation contributed to his loss. The 35-year-old has since taken a break, using his social media platforms to entertain his nearly 3 million followers with comedic sketches and UFC-related content. Despite his break, Dvalishvili remains committed to training and continues to train alongside his close friend and training partner, Aljamain Sterling.