Petr Yan outworks Dvalishvili again at UFC 333 to lead their series 2-1

Petr Yan claimed a second consecutive unanimous decision victory over Merab Dvalishvili in the co-main event of UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, moving to 2-1 in one of bantamweight’s defining rivalries. The pair have now spent a combined 75 minutes inside the octagon across their three meetings.

Yan struggled to impose himself in the early rounds but shifted the momentum decisively in the final three, consistently outworking Dvalishvili on the feet and neutralising the Georgian’s relentless wrestling. The judges were unanimous in awarding Yan the win, though the closeness of the contest sparked immediate debate among fighters and media alike.

Reactions from fellow professionals were split on the scorecards but united in admiration. Fellow bantamweight Adrian Yanez captured the mood of the division when he wrote on social media: “Such a great trilogy. Wouldn’t mind seeing the best of 7.”

The result leaves the series poised at 2-1 in Yan’s favour, with Dvalishvili having won their first encounter. Whether a fourth fight materialises remains to be seen, but the quality of their three bouts has cemented both men’s status as the standout bantamweights of their generation.