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Yan vs. Dvalishvili III: Back Injury and Revenge
20 Oct
Summary
- Petr Yan faces Merab Dvalishvili for the third time in Abu Dhabi.
- Yan had a broken hand in the first fight, Dvalishvili lost the rematch.
- Yan underwent back surgery, impacting his desired fight timeline.
Petr Yan is preparing for his highly anticipated trilogy bout against Merab Dvalishvili, scheduled for this Saturday in Abu Dhabi as the co-main event of UFC 333. Yan secured a decisive victory in their rematch in December 2025, flipping the script from their first fight in March 2023, where Yan fought with a broken hand. Yan's recent inactivity, including surgery for discs in his lower back, prevented him from fighting sooner.
Yan acknowledges Dvalishvili's claims of him being 'rude' but states he was merely being truthful. He believes he already humbled Dvalishvili in their second encounter, citing Dvalishvili's admission of being 'broken' in the second round. With extensive knowledge of each other's styles from two previous fights, Yan is confident in his strategy to control the fight's direction and defeat Dvalishvili once more.
This bout marks the first fight of 2026 for both Yan and Dvalishvili. Yan's comeback after a three-fight skid in 2023, leading to his second bantamweight championship, highlights his resilience and determination heading into this crucial third confrontation.
