Dvalishvili brushes off Yan's trash talk ahead of UFC 333 bantamweight title trilogy

Merab Dvalishvili arrived at the UFC 333 pre-fight press conference calm, composed, and entirely unbothered — and he wants everyone to know that was entirely deliberate.

Dvalishvili challenges Petr Yan for the bantamweight title in the co-main event of UFC 333 on October 24, completing a trilogy that has split evenly between them. “The Machine” dominated their first meeting at UFC Las Vegas in March 2023, before Yan reversed the outcome at UFC 323 this past December to reclaim the divisional title for a second time.

At the UFC 331 press conference in September, Yan was in full antagonist mode — repeatedly interrupting Dvalishvili and firing off insults — while Dvalishvili sat back and let it wash over him. The restraint was uncharacteristic enough to raise eyebrows among pundits, but Dvalishvili says the explanation is straightforward.

“Right now, I know Petr Yan very well,” Dvalishvili told MMA Fighting. “He’s a good fighter, but he’s just who he is. He’s always been disrespectful. He talks shit, and this doesn’t bother me anymore. I think I grew up as a person, as a fighter.”

Dvalishvili has not always been so measured. He has previously clashed with fighters and fans alike when he felt disrespected, and he acknowledges those moments shaped his current outlook. A recent social media episode — in which he shared a political opinion and was met with a wave of criticism from fellow Georgians — proved to be something of a turning point.

“I’ve been taking it personal when people are talking shit,” he explained. “I don’t do anything bad, but when they talk shit and it was too much already for no reason… I’m not trying to defend myself. I know I’m right with my gut, and I know I’m right with my country and right with people, and I’m just going to do my thing.”

His conclusion, he says, is simple: life is too short to be angry, and the only answer that matters will come inside the octagon.

“Yan talking shit about me doesn’t bother me anymore, and most important is I have to make weight and then show up October 24 and do my job,” Dvalishvili said. “I will answer, in the fight, his questions. I’ll be the winner, and then he will be humble. He can talk, make fun of me, but this doesn’t bother me anymore.”

A win would make Dvalishvili a two-time bantamweight champion and settle the trilogy decisively in his favour.