Merab Dvalishvili Admits He Fought Petr Yan's Fight in Bantamweight Title Loss
Dvalishvili says he abandoned his grappling-first approach and played into Yan's hands in their December rematch.
Merab Dvalishvili has identified the mistake that cost him his UFC bantamweight title. He boxed with a boxer.
"I think the second fight I was fighting his fight," Dvalishvili told media ahead of the trilogy bout with Petr Yan at UFC 333 on October 24 in Abu Dhabi. The Georgian grappler said he abandoned his wrestling-heavy approach and engaged Yan in standing exchanges, playing directly into the Russian's elite striking.
The first fight in 2023 was all Dvalishvili. He smothered Yan with relentless takedowns and chain wrestling, earning a clear unanimous decision. The rematch in December told a different story. Yan successfully stuffed the takedowns and forced Dvalishvili to fight on the feet, where the technical gap in pure boxing was apparent. Yan won a unanimous decision with what observers called a striking masterclass.
Dvalishvili, now 21-5, says the fix is simple: be himself. "I'll just be myself" in the trilogy, he promised, signaling a return to the pressure grappling that made him champion in the first place.
The admission is refreshingly honest from a fighter who could easily blame judges, training camp, or circumstances. Instead, Dvalishvili pointed the finger at his own tactical choices and vowed to correct them.
Yan, 20-5, will enter Abu Dhabi with the momentum of having solved Dvalishvili once. The question for October 24 is whether Dvalishvili can re-impose the wrestling that won him the belt, or whether Yan has permanently closed that door. One fight apiece. Winner takes the title and the rivalry.
Respect to Merab for saying it plainly. He stood and traded with Petr Yan, one of the best boxers in the division, and lost the belt because of it. No excuses about judges or camp. Just a bad plan.
The question for Abu Dhabi is whether the fix is really as simple as being himself. In the first fight the takedowns came easy. In the rematch Yan stuffed them and made Merab strike. That is not only Merab drifting from his game, that is Yan adjusting. Championship fighters do that, and I am not sure Merab gets to just turn the wrestling back on.
Still, I lean Merab. His pace over five rounds breaks people, and if he commits early instead of getting cute, he drags Yan into deep water again. Winner takes the belt and the rivalry. That is the kind of trilogy I will happily set my alarm for.
