Former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili shared his future plans following UFC 323. On Saturday night, he suffered a loss to Petr Yan in Yan’s fourth successful title defense of the year. This rematch was markedly different from their earlier encounter in 2023, with Yan putting on an impressive display to reclaim the bantamweight championship. Yan’s victory, which concluded the UFC’s 2025 PPV schedule, boosted his rank on the pound-for-pound list.
Dvalishvili appears eager to return to competition quickly after the defeat. Despite Petr Yan’s belief that Dvalishvili must first beat Umar Nurmagomedov before challenging for the title again, both fighters and fans are keen on a third showdown. The UFC has already informed Dvalishvili that his next fight would likely be a rematch against Yan, allowing him as much recovery time as he needs. Though some speculated Dvalishvili’s unusual preparation and frequent fights in 2025 might have affected his performance, he is aiming for a fast turnaround, possibly in April rather than waiting until summer.
Aljamain Sterling, who has a history of battling Yan twice, believes Dvalishvili did enough to secure the win at UFC 323. Sterling shared his thoughts on his YouTube channel, expressing surprise over the judges’ decision and thinking the scorecard favored Dvalishvili.
Fan Take: This development is crucial for fight fans because it promises an exciting trilogy that could redefine the bantamweight division’s landscape. The determination shown by Dvalishvili to bounce back quickly highlights the intensity and resilience that keep the sport thrilling and unpredictable.
