Dvalishvili targets Song Yadong at UFC 334 just weeks after trilogy clash with Yan

Merab Dvalishvili has put Song Yadong on notice, declaring at UFC 333 media day in Abu Dhabi that he would be open to facing the surging bantamweight contender at UFC 334 in November — potentially less than a month after his trilogy fight with champion Petr Yan on Saturday.

The former champion returns to the octagon after a 10-month layoff, the longest of his career, to face Yan in a co-main event rematch. Dvalishvili lost his title to Yan in 2026 after an extraordinary run in which he successfully defended his belt against Cory Sandhagen, Sean O’Malley, and Umar Nurmagomedov — an attempt to become the first fighter in UFC history to defend the bantamweight title four times in a single calendar year. Yan denied him that record with what Dvalishvili himself described as an all-time great performance.

“I don’t regret that I was busy last year and I’m happy even when I lost,” Dvalishvili said. “It’s fine, it’s part of the sport, but if you ask me again to fight Petr Yan two months after I defend my belt, I’m not going to do the same thing right now because I needed more time against Petr Yan. But everybody else, I can fight Song Yadong in November in Madison Square Garden.”

Song forced his way to the front of the contender queue with a shocking second-round knockout of Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC Shanghai, a result that reset the division’s pecking order. Despite previous defeats to Yan, Sandhagen, and O’Malley in high-stakes bouts, Song’s latest performance has made him impossible to overlook.

Dvalishvili warmed to the idea quickly when pressed on a potential post-UFC 333 matchup. “That’s a good idea, actually,” he said. “If UFC will do this — they don’t usually do this — but God willing when I will win against Yan, if they bring Song Yadong, that would be nice because yeah, I think he’s next, that’s a no-brainer.”

He also acknowledged the personal pull of a November date at Madison Square Garden, though he noted competing commitments — including plans to open a gym — that might counsel patience. Ultimately, Dvalishvili concluded the Song fight makes sense regardless of Saturday’s result, reasoning that if Yan beats him, Song should not be the one to challenge Yan next given that Yan has already defeated Song.

“I think even if I lost, I should still fight him,” Dvalishvili said, “because if Petr beats me, then [Song] should not fight Yan because Yan already beat him.”

UFC 333 takes place Saturday in Abu Dhabi, with the Dvalishvili-Yan trilogy serving as the co-main event.