It took Petr Yan years to go from losing his UFC bantamweight title to winning it back again, and he wants Merab Dvalishvili to experience a taste of that too.
Yan shocked a lot of people at UFC 323 by dominating Dvalishvili en route to a 49-46, 49-46, 48-47 decision win, earning back the belt he lost to Aljamain Sterling in 2021 due to an illegal knee DQ. “No Mercy” then suffered a number of setbacks, from questionable decisions to injuries. But he turned things around over the last 12 months to go
on a three fight win before capping 2025 off with a masterclass on how to beat the seemingly unbeatable Dvalishvili.
“It’s an incredible feeling,” Yan said through a translator at the UFC 323 post-fight press conference. “With rematches, I said it before, I do better. It’s like I’m more intelligent in the rematches. And of course, this [belt] right here, this is the motivation.”
“There wasn’t actually a moment when I realized the fight was mine,” he said of his impressive performance. “I knew that the entire time I had to push my initiative. I had to make sure to give damage, to damage him … I’m fighting in the champion’s hometown. This is his backyard. I flew thirty hours to get here. I knew that in order for the belt to go in my hands, I had to make sure to leave no stone unturned. No questions.”
There was no question that Yan was better than Dvalishvili last night, but with the two now 1-1, Merab wants a rubber match to settle the score.
“I think Merab should really just get the boys, get into the jacuzzi, think about it, and then we’ll see,” Yan said before suggesting Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov fight for a No.1 contender bout. “They can rematch, and then we can see what happens … For me to get the opportunity to fight for the belt again, UFC made me go three more fights before I was able to get into the contender position.”
That ignores the fact that Yan got an immediate interim title shot after losing his belt to Sterling via DQ. It was only after a three-fight losing streak and one year injury hiatus that he had to run the gauntlet to get back into the contender’s circle. Regardless, Yan said he wouldn’t be fussy with the UFC’s choices.
“I never chose what to do as a champion, I never chose my opponents,” he said. “Whatever the UFC tells me to do, let’s go. Pedal to the metal. Smash everybody … I don’t care. I I flew thirty hours to get here. Put me in Alaska or anywhere. Twelve hour time difference, completely different climates, continents. Just tell me where. That’s it.”
A question inevitably came up regarding Sean O’Malley, who also holds a win over Yan from the Russian’s skid era. Would Petr like to avenge that loss?
“I heard that he didn’t like that I said he looks like a lady from corner, and then he saw himself and he was like, ‘Oh, boy,'” Yan joked. “Maybe he was right and I had to change myself. I just saw a video of him a couple of hours ago and he still looks the same. He didn’t change. What the heck do I need him for? I want people to improve themselves.”
For more UFC 323 results, coverage, and highlights click HERE.
