Merab Dvalishvili meets champion Petr Yan at UFC 333 and wants Song Yadong next if he wins, possibly in November, though he also plans to open a gym then.
From 4 reports by 4 outlets
What we know
- Dvalishvili challenges champion Petr Yan for the UFC bantamweight title in the UFC 333 co-main event in Abu Dhabi
- Yan took the bantamweight title from Dvalishvili in their rematch in December
- UFC 334 takes place at Madison Square Garden in November
Reported, not confirmed
- Yan is a -160 favorite and Dvalishvili a +135 underdog HEAVY
- Song Yadong is ranked No. 2 in the bantamweight division Blood & Sweat
Merab Dvalishvili goes into his trilogy bout with Petr Yan planning a quick return if he wins back the bantamweight title. He told fight-week media in Abu Dhabi that he does not regret his four fights in 2025, even though that workload became the main talking point after Yan beat him in December. According to HEAVY, he admitted to fatigue after that loss, which is why he took 10 months off before this fight.
His one exception is Yan: he said he would not again take a fight with his rival two months after a title defense because he needs more preparation time for him. Anyone else, he said, he would fight on a fast turnaround, and he named Song Yadong as the obvious next challenger, potentially at UFC 334 at Madison Square Garden in November.
Song is in Abu Dhabi for fight week, according to Bloody Elbow, which opens the door to a post-fight face-off. Dvalishvili welcomed the idea of the UFC bringing Song into the Octagon if he wins: "I think he's next, that's a no-brainer."
He also tempered the November talk, telling BJPenn.com he wants to open a gym that month and should relax and take time, even if his instinct is to fight again right away.
His one exception is Yan: he said he would not again take a fight with his rival two months after a title defense because he needs more preparation time for him. Anyone else, he said, he would fight on a fast turnaround, and he named Song Yadong as the obvious next challenger, potentially at UFC 334 at Madison Square Garden in November.
Song is in Abu Dhabi for fight week, according to Bloody Elbow, which opens the door to a post-fight face-off. Dvalishvili welcomed the idea of the UFC bringing Song into the Octagon if he wins: "I think he's next, that's a no-brainer."
He also tempered the November talk, telling BJPenn.com he wants to open a gym that month and should relax and take time, even if his instinct is to fight again right away.
- Summary
- Merab Dvalishvili meets champion Petr Yan at UFC 333 and wants Song Yadong next if he wins, possibly in November, though he also plans to open a gym then.
- Key points (one per line)
- Merab Dvalishvili challenges bantamweight champion Petr Yan in the UFC 333 co-main event in Abu Dhabi.
If he wins, Dvalishvili wants to defend against Song Yadong, possibly at UFC 334 at Madison Square Garden in November.
He says he would not fight Yan again on two months' notice but would fight anyone else quickly.
Dvalishvili also says he wants to open a gym in November and should take some time off.
- Also reported by (Name | URL per line)
- Bloody Elbow | https://bloodyelbow.com/2026/10/23/merab-dvalishvili-willing-to-fight-again-next-month-with-one-exception-following-petr-yan-loss/
Yahoo Sports MMA / Uncrowned | https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/merab-dvalishvili-wants-fight-song-043745816.html
Blood & Sweat | https://www.bloodandsweat.ru/2026/10/merab-dvalishvili-gotov-podratsya-s-yadongom-songom-v-noyabre/
BJPenn.com | https://www.bjpenn.com/mma-news/merab-dvalishvili/merab-dvalishvili-is-open-to-defending-against-song-yadong-if-he-wins-at-ufc-333/
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Fighters in this story
Merab Dvalishvili
Petr YanSources
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