Dvalishvili admits fighting Yan's game cost him UFC bantamweight title in rematch

Merab Dvalishvili has conceded that he handed Petr Yan the UFC bantamweight title last December by abandoning the wrestling-based approach that earned him a dominant unanimous decision victory over the Russian in their first meeting in 2023.

Dvalishvili was defending the belt for the fourth time in under a year when the rematch took place, entering as a sizable favourite. Instead of dictating the fight on the mat, he found himself drawn into a stand-up exchange against one of MMA’s sharpest technical boxers — and Yan made him pay, earning a unanimous decision victory that flipped the championship.

“I think the second fight I was fighting his fight,” Dvalishvili told MMA Fighting. “I was in front of him and then exchanged the boxing, but this time I will just be myself. I think I’ll be much sharper and I know I can beat this guy. He hits hard, he is good, he’s shown, so it’s going to be a good fight. I’m excited.”

Dvalishvili acknowledged that the tactical drift was not entirely self-inflicted. Yan deserves credit for neutralising the Georgian’s takedown game by stuffing attempts consistently throughout the rematch, effectively forcing the fight to remain on the feet where the Russian holds a clear edge.

Their trilogy is set for UFC 333 on October 24 at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, with Yan now the champion defending against the man he dethroned. Dvalishvili carries a career record of 21-5, while Yan stands at 20-5 heading into what will be their deciding chapter.

For Dvalishvili, the path back to the title runs through the same opponent who exposed his tactical limitations — but he insists the lessons have been learned and the adjustments made.