Petr Yan says he has Merab figured out before UFC 333
The bantamweight champion says two fights gave him all the information he needs; Merab says he is much better and will prove it Saturday in Abu Dhabi.
Petr Yan says he has Merab Dvalishvili figured out. The UFC bantamweight champion defends his title against the Georgian this Saturday, Oct. 24, at UFC 333 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, in a trilogy fight with the series tied 1-1.
Yan made the comments in a pre-fight interview reported by Sherdog. Dvalishvili fired back, saying he is much better than the Russian and that he will prove it in the Octagon.
What Petr Yan said about Merab
For Yan, two fights were enough to build a full scouting report. “We definitely have enough information downloaded from the time we spent together in the Octagon,” the champion said.
Then he got to the point. “I’ve figured him out and I’m gonna do whatever I can to this time bring the same type of victory,” Yan said, adding that he wants to “open new layers which we haven’t seen yet.”
Merab Dvalishvili’s response
Dvalishvili, the former champion and No. 1 ranked bantamweight, returns after 10 months out of action. He says he feels hungry, healthy and refreshed.
“This time I believe I’m gonna win this fight because I believe I’m much better than him and I have to prove it,” Dvalishvili said in a pre-fight interview. “I’ve been working hard. I’ve been working smart and all I have to do is just show up and do my thing.”
Earlier in the week, Dvalishvili took a lighter tone when he called himself a decision machine. This time, the message was more serious.
Yan vs. Merab by the numbers
Their first meeting came in March 2023 in Las Vegas. Dvalishvili won a unanimous decision, controlling the fight with his wrestling from start to finish.
The rematch, on Dec. 6, 2025, at UFC 323 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, flipped the script. Yan won a unanimous decision, took the belt and snapped Dvalishvili’s 14-fight winning streak.
The key stat came in the wrestling. Yan stopped 27 of Dvalishvili’s 29 takedown attempts and landed five of his own. He also edged the striking, 139 to 134 in significant strikes.
Dvalishvili had been busy in 2025. He defended the belt three times that year, against Umar Nurmagomedov, Sean O’Malley and Cory Sandhagen, and was chasing a fourth defense in the same calendar year when he lost to Yan.
Merab’s Jiu-Jitsu threat
Known for his takedowns, Dvalishvili can also finish on the mat. Against O’Malley at UFC 316 in June 2025, he won by ninja choke in the third round, according to the UFC.
He also values the ground game. In 2024, he said he considers Jiu-Jitsu the most dangerous martial art. If his takedowns land this time, that is where Yan could be in trouble.
UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi
Yan enters with a 20-5 record. Dvalishvili is 21-5, according to the UFC.
The bout is one of two title fights on the card. The main event is Alexander Volkanovski vs. unbeaten Movsar Evloev for the featherweight belt. At the weigh-ins, Brazil’s Nicolle Caliari missed weight.
The prelims start at 12 p.m. ET and the main card at 2 p.m. ET, live on Paramount+.
Has Petr Yan really figured out Merab, or will the Georgian land his takedowns and take the belt back? Let us know in the comments.
Read more:
- Merab Dvalishvili jokes he’s a decision machine before Yan 3
- Volkanovski vows to finish unbeaten Evloev at UFC 333
- UFC 333 weigh-ins: Nicolle Caliari misses by 4.5 pounds
