Merab Dvalishvili vows return as O’Malley picks Song KO
After losing to Petr Yan at UFC 333, Dvalishvili says he is healthy and will be back soon, while O’Malley says Song Yadong would knock him out
Merab Dvalishvili took to social media on Monday to say he is healthy and will be back in the Octagon soon, two days after losing to Petr Yan in the UFC 333 co-main event in Abu Dhabi. In a YouTube video, his old rival Sean O’Malley offered a pick for Dvalishvili’s next fight: Song Yadong, who O’Malley believes would knock him out.
Dvalishvili’s message after the Petr Yan loss
In a post on X, the former bantamweight champion thanked God, his coaches, his teams in Las Vegas and New York, the UFC, his family and the fans.
“I am healthy and motivated and will be back soon!” he wrote. “I cannot wait to be back in that cage doing what I love to do!” He signed off with a nod to his nickname: “This Machine never breaks!”
Saturday’s loss at Etihad Arena came by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring it 48-47 for Yan. Dvalishvili won the first two rounds on all three cards with takedowns and pressure. From the third round on, Yan stuffed his shots and hurt him on the feet. Both men earned Fight of the Night bonuses.
The result drops Dvalishvili to 21-6 and settles the trilogy in Yan’s favor. The Georgian won their first meeting in March 2023 and lost the belt to Yan at UFC 323 in December 2025. He remains No. 1 in the official UFC bantamweight rankings, right behind the champion.
Why O’Malley likes Song Yadong over Dvalishvili
O’Malley gave his take on his own channel. “Three-round fight, Song Yadong knocks out Merab for sure,” he said.
“He’s just so explosive and he’s just gonna be hard to take down. His reaction time is so fast. I think he can put Merab’s lights out.”
O’Malley knows both men well. He lost his title to Dvalishvili by unanimous decision in September 2024 and was submitted by him in the third round of their rematch at UFC 316 in June 2025. Against Song, he won a unanimous decision at UFC 324 in January, 29-28 on all three cards.
Song is on a roll. In August, he knocked out Umar Nurmagomedov with a right uppercut in the second round of the UFC Shanghai main event, catching the Russian as he shot for a takedown. That kind of timing is what O’Malley sees as a problem for a wrestler who chains takedowns like Dvalishvili.
The race for Petr Yan’s bantamweight title
There is a catch. O’Malley, ranked No. 2, and Song, ranked No. 3, are the two names the UFC is weighing for Yan’s next defense, as VF Comunica reported after UFC 333. Dana White said no decision has been made.
A Dvalishvili vs. Song fight would take one of those contenders out of line and clear the road for O’Malley, who wants a rematch with Yan.
Dvalishvili has not responded to the prediction and has not named an opponent or a return date. Before the trilogy fight, Yan said he had Dvalishvili figured out, and the last three rounds on Saturday backed him up.
Should Dvalishvili face Song Yadong next, or does he deserve another title shot first? Tell us in the comments.
Read more:
- Petr Yan beats Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 333, retains title
- Petr Yan’s next foe: UFC weighs O’Malley vs Song Yadong
- Petr Yan says he has Merab figured out before UFC 333
