Petr Yan Delivers Cold Assessment of Merab Dvalishvili: ‘He’s a Broken Machine’
Petr Yan calls Merab Dvalishvili a “broken machine” ahead of their UFC 333 bantamweight title trilogy in Abu Dhabi.
Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili have already traded a solid 50 minutes battling it out inside the Octagon, but their rivalry remains as intense as ever. As they gear up for their third showdown, Yan offered a brutally honest and concise assessment of his former rival during a recent interview with Full Violence.
When asked to sum up Dvalishvili in just one word, the bantamweight champion opted for two words: "Broken machine."
The remark carries a lot of weight, considering their history. Dvalishvili dominated Yan in their first encounter in 2023, but Yan flipped the script in their December 2025 rematch, snatching back the bantamweight title with a unanimous decision.
Yan Has Already Solved ‘The Machine’ Once
Yan's second showdown with Dvalishvili was a whole other ball game compared to their first encounter. This time, instead of allowing Dvalishvili to dictate the pace with his relentless wrestling, Yan controlled the distance, fended off takedowns, and consistently landed strikes, leading to a solid victory with scores of 49-46, 49-46, and 48-47.
As a result, Yan became a two-time UFC bantamweight champion and leveled their rivalry at one win each. Now, the two will settle the score at UFC 333 on October 24 in Abu Dhabi, with Yan's title on the line.
‘My Best Performances Are Yet to Come’
Despite Yan already having a game plan ready for taking down Dvalishvili, he feels like he has not shown his true potential just yet. When asked if his recent win against Rob Font was the highlight of his career, Yan disagreed.
“No, I don't think so,” Yan said. “Every fight is different and you try to do your best, but I believe my best performances is yet to come.”
That kind of confidence could make their upcoming trilogy fight particularly intriguing. Dvalishvili has already pinpointed mistakes from their second fight and plans to make some adjustments, while Yan steps in as the champ, looking to prove that his earlier victory wasn't just a lucky break.
With the bantamweight title and bragging rights at stake, Yan's "broken machine" moniker could take on an even greater meaning if he manages to stop Dvalishvili's trademark pressure for a second straight time.
