UFC Bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili expressed his astonishment following recent news regarding Petr Yan`s upcoming fight.
Merab Dvalishvili is scheduled to face Sean O’Malley for the bantamweight championship at UFC 316 next weekend. This fight is a direct rematch of their previous encounter at UFC 306 last September, where Dvalishvili secured a decision victory over O`Malley.
Prior to this title opportunity for O`Malley, former champion and #2 ranked contender Petr Yan was considered a potential challenger, having won his last two fights against Song Yadong and Deiveson Figueiredo.
However, just a week before the Dvalishvili vs. O’Malley 2 fight, reports surfaced that the UFC has booked Yan to fight #13 ranked contender and Sean O’Malley`s teammate, Marcus McGhee, at a UFC event in Abu Dhabi.
Dvalishvili revealed he did not anticipate his former opponent, Yan, fighting someone else before a potential title shot, citing a specific reason.
Merab Dvalishvili Expected Petr Yan to be Next for the Title
Reacting to Yan’s upcoming bout against McGhee, Dvalishvili stated that he was under the impression Yan would be the next fighter competing for the UFC belt. He explained this belief was due to the limited number of other top contenders currently on significant winning streaks.
Speaking to Helen Yee, Dvalishvili commented:
“It’s a tough test for Petr Yan. Wow… I thought he was fighting for the belt, and now he has to fight another contender. That means that our division is very stuck. It’s not easy to fight for the belt. Good luck to him. Of course, I will be cheering [for] him. We fight, I always share [support] to the guy I fought. So, it’s gonna be a tough test for him, but I’m sure he will get it.”
Dvalishvili previously defeated Yan via unanimous decision in March 2023, winning all rounds on the judges’ scorecards. Yan`s name had also come up as a possible first title defense for O’Malley, should O`Malley defeat Dvalishvili at UFC 316.
Merab Dvalishvili Mentions Cory Sandhagen as a Possible Future Opponent
Petr Yan is not the only bantamweight contender aiming for a title shot. Cory Sandhagen, ranked #4 and having won four of his last five fights, has publicly called for a title opportunity following his victory over Deiveson Figueiredo earlier this month.
Regarding Sandhagen, Dvalishvili said he believes the American fighter is ready for a title challenge.
“I think right now, Sandhagen is ready,” Dvalishvili stated, noting they have never fought each other.
On the possibility of facing Sandhagen in the future, Dvalishvili added:
“Maybe, I’m not sure. Whatever the UFC will decide. Whatever UFC thinks the fresh guy and the most deserving guy [is], I will fight.”
Percy Harlow