Merab Dvalishvili promises 'domination' with new plan as Petr Yan says Song Yadong deserved UFC 333 title shot more

Former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili says he will bring a different game plan to his trilogy fight with Petr Yan and expects "domination" in Abu Dhabi. Yan, the champion, answered at the same UFC 333 media day by saying Song Yadong was more deserving of a title shot. The National reported both men's comments on Thursday, October 22. The rubber match is the co-main event at Etihad Arena on Saturday, October 24, under the featherweight title fight between Alexander Volkanovski and Movsar Evloev.

'A different strategy'

Dvalishvili holds the UFC record for most takedowns. He told reporters that wrestling will not be his main focus this time.

"I'm not really focused on the takedown. I have a different strategy," Dvalishvili said, according to The National. "I think it's gonna be domination this time, like it was the first time. I have a different game plan, and I can't wait to show everyone, and I can't wait to raise my hand."

He also said the belt is secondary. "I'm really excited to fight Petr Yan; the title is secondary," he said. "His trash talk and his disrespect doesn't bother me because the most important thing is to get the win against him and answer that way. I'm not here to show who is the better person. I'm here to show who is the better fighter."

Dvalishvili admitted a loss is possible. "I can see now if I lose, it's gonna just be a loss. And it's possible, of course. Petr Yan is a dangerous guy," he said.

In a pre-fight interview posted by UFC News on X, he said he feels healthy and believes he is "much better" than Yan. "First fight, it was one-sided. I win. Second fight, it was one-sided but not very for me," he said, as quoted by Sherdog. "This time I believe I'm gonna win this fight because I believe I'm much better than him and I have to prove it."

Yan: 'Song Yadong is really more deserving'

Yan said Dvalishvili should not be next in line for his belt. "Song Yadong is really more deserving of a title fight, to be honest," Yan said through a translator, according to The National. "I do not choose my opponents. Whoever the company gives me, that's who I fight."

He was not interested in his rival's new plan. "He has his own thoughts, his own ideas, his own plan," Yan said. "I'm not really interested in what he has to do. I have a plan, and my plan is to come out there and win."

The National reports that Yan had major back surgery in January. Sean O'Malley has suggested Yan needs more time to recover. Asked about that, Yan replied: "If I am here, I am 100 per cent ready to fight."

Training at Khabib's gym

Dvalishvili also appears to have dropped his feud with Umar Nurmagomedov, at least for fight week. In episode three of the UFC 333 Embedded series, he called teammate Aljamain Sterling and invited him to train at Khabib Nurmagomedov's gym in Abu Dhabi, Bloody Elbow reported. He said Nina Drama had connected him with the gym after they met at the airport.

"Are you sure? Because of you and Umar," Sterling asked. "I'm good with Umar now," Dvalishvili replied. "I don't have any [issue]." Dvalishvili beat Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 in January 2025, and the two traded insults for months afterwards. According to The National, Sterling will be in Dvalishvili's corner on Saturday.

The series so far

Dvalishvili won the first fight by unanimous decision in March 2023. Yan took the title from him by unanimous decision at UFC 323 last December. It was Dvalishvili's fourth fight of 2025, two months after his win over Cory Sandhagen. He has since admitted that taking the rematch so soon was a mistake. Dvalishvili has said that if he wins on Saturday, Song Yadong should be his first title defense.