LAS VEGAS — Merab Dvalishvili will challenge Petr Yan for the bantamweight title in the co-main event of UFC 333 on Saturday, looking to become a two-time champion in their highly anticipated trilogy bout. Dvalishvili dominated their first meeting at UFC Las Vegas in March 2023, while Yan flipped the script in the rematch at UFC 323 this past December to become a two-time divisional champion.
The pair, along with headliners Alexander Volkanovski and Movsar Evloev, took part in a pre-event press conference prior to UFC 331 in September. Yan was relentless, talking trash and constantly interrupting his rival. Dvalishvili, in contrast, stayed respectful and refused to be drawn in. "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, [and] you know me, I'm just a respectful guy."
Dvalishvili, who has been known to react when disrespected by fighters and fans, said he has learned from past indiscretions and now sees life as too short to be angry. He pointed to recent online criticism, even from fellow Georgians, after he shared a political opinion. "He can talk, make fun of me, but this doesn't bother me anymore," he said. "Most important is I have to make weight and then show up Oct. 24 and do my job, and then I will answer, in the fight, his questions." He added: "This press conference, like trash talk, this doesn't really matter because most important [thing] is fight. [I'm making] sure I'm focusing for the fight, and that's what I'm going to do." Dvalishvili put the title on the line four times in 2025 and makes his first appearance of 2026 after his 14-fight win streak came to an end, while Yan has won four straight since the lopsided loss to Dvalishvili nearly four years ago.
"Right now, yes," Dvalishvili said when asked if this is the biggest fight of his career. "Usually, always next fight is the biggest fight, but this is for sure [the biggest fight of my career]. [I'm] fighting [a] champion, most dangerous guy, Petr Yan. It's hard to fight him. He has all the tools, all the skills, but in the trilogy, one on one, people are waiting for this, and yeah, it's this is the most big fight in my career, for sure."