Petr Yan Sees “The Same Kind of People Swirling Around” at 135, While Merab Dvalishvili Is Excited About What’s Next
The UFC bantamweight division has seen plenty of movement while Petr Yan was away. Yan, however, does not think much has really changed. Merab Dvalishvili has a very different view.
Petr Yan will face Merab Dvalishvili for the third time on Oct. 24 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The first two meetings went to the scorecards, with Dvalishvili winning their 2023 bout before Yan took the rematch at UFC 323 to reclaim the bantamweight title.
While Yan was away, the division produced several notable results. Song Yadong stopped Umar Nurmagomedov, Mario Bautista moved up the rankings past Cory Sandhagen, and Sean O’Malley beat Aiemann Zahabi. Those developments, however, did little to change Yan’s opinion of the 135-pound class.
Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili See a Very Different Bantamweight Division
Yan told MMA Fighting that he had been following the division but had not seen much that impressed him. Song’s knockout of Umar was his clearest example.
“So there’s really not all that much that I’m impressed with. Same kind of people swirling around, so I’m happy to come out and fight everybody and beat everybody.”
#UFC333's Petr Yan hasn't been impressed with any of the #UFC bantamweight contenders:
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) September 24, 2026
"There's really not all that much that I’m impressed with. Same kind of people swirling around, so I’m happy to come out and fight everybody and beat everybody."
(🎥 @JoseYoungs) pic.twitter.com/8qG4CtDkMO
Merab sees things differently. In his own interview, he said the division continues to move and pointed to Raul Rosas Jr. and other young fighters as reasons to be excited about what is coming next. He also singled out Song, calling him a new contender whose power interests him.
“Now we have a new contender, Song Yadong. I’m not going to say he gives me chills, but he makes me excited because he hits hard. He really hits like a truck, and I want to test that.”
Yan Wants to Leave No Doubts About His Last Win
Yan’s focus is still on settling the trilogy before worrying about anyone else. He is not looking beyond Dvalishvili, but he has already explained what he wants from the rematch. Both previous fights reached the final bell. This time, Yan wants a different ending.
“I want to prove myself and also everybody else that that wasn’t a fluke, that there was a reason for that. And hopefully this time it’s going to be a knockout.”
That gives the champion a clear target for UFC 333. The second win gave Yan the belt. A finish, in his words, would remove any lingering doubt about why he won the rematch in the first place.
.webp&w=3840&q=75)
