Petr Yan: “He don’t want to fight yet”

Former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili will have to wait a bit more before getting his hands on current champion Petr Yan.

Dvalishvili lost the gold at UFC 323 after a stunning performance from Yan. ‘The Machine’ was looking to become the first UFC champion to defend his title four times in a calendar year, but Yan’s game plan was perfect, and he won the belt.

However, a trilogy couldn’t be set up right after UFC 323 as Yan underwent major back surgery and was expected to be out for months.

Dvalishvili spoke to MMA Fighting and confirmed there haven’t been any recent rematch discussions:

“I don’t hear anything from him. He don’t want to fight yet. I don’t know what is the situation.”

Furthermore, Dvalishvili said that Yan was ready to fight on the White House card in June:

“He was ready in June for the White House but they have already announced the July fight card. They’re going to announce the August fight card soon.”

Dvalishvili also said that he is next in line for the shot at Yan, but the timeline is far from confirmed:

“They haven’t told me anything. All I know is I’m fighting Yan but I don’t know when. I don’t know the time. It looks like Petr is taking his time.”

Dvalishvili defeated Yan in their first match-up in 2023. ‘The Machine’ then beat Henry Cejudo before dismantling Sean O’Malley to become the UFC bantamweight champion.

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Islam Makhachev makes huge prediction for Petr Yan vs. Merab Dvalishvili trilogy

While Merab Dvalishvili is confident of his chances against Petr Yan in their next fight, UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev isn’t so sure.

While speaking to Ushatayka, the Dagestani said that Yan knows how to nullify Dvalishvili’s ground game after the second fight:

“I think it will be even easier for Petr in a third fight because he knows what to expect from Merab. He knows how to stop his wrestling and impose his own wrestling. It’ll be even more easy.”

However, Makhachev also warned Yan from taking things too lightly:

“You can’t relax. Merab is the kind of fighter who keeps coming and coming. You just have to show up in the same shape, with the same mindset. Don’t fear his wrestling and impose your own. Which is exactly what he did in the second fight.”