Merab Dvalishvili Prepares for Bantamweight Title Rematch Against Petr Yan

Merab Dvalishvili is gearing up for a bantamweight title rematch against Petr Yan at UFC 333, taking place in Abu Dhabi. This fight marks Dvalishvili's first appearance of 2026 after a challenging previous year where he lost his title to Yan in December.

In 2025, Dvalishvili had an impressive run, defending his title three times, which tied the divisional record. However, his reign ended when Yan outperformed him in their last encounter. As he prepares for their third fight, Dvalishvili expresses confidence in his abilities and readiness to prove himself.

Dvalishvili has remained active in wrestling during his time off and believes this has kept him sharp. He reflects on the significance of this upcoming match, stating that a victory would bring him peace and satisfaction. The fight is scheduled for October 24, 2026, with the main card starting at 2pm ET.