Yan and Dvalishvili Headline Bantamweight Trilogy at UFC 333
The outcome will determine immediate title pathways and shape whether Sean O’Malley chases a rematch or moves toward other high-profile opponents.
Overview
- Petr Yan defends his UFC bantamweight title against Merab Dvalishvili in a trilogy co‑main event at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
- Yan used media day to accuse the UFC of favoring Sean O’Malley and said Song Yadong is more deserving of a title shot, criticizing the promotion’s commercial push.
- The two enter the fight with a 1–1 split from prior meetings, with Dvalishvili winning in March 2023 and Yan taking the rematch at UFC 323, making adaptability a key storyline.
- Reporting and pundits frame post‑fight matchups as contingent on the result: a Yan win would likely set up a big‑money Yan–O’Malley rematch while a Dvalishvili win would probably steer O’Malley toward Payton Talbott.
- Experts differ on the pick: Joe Rogan has pushed for O’Malley vs. Talbott as a compelling matchup, and Georges St‑Pierre says Yan has momentum but that Dvalishvili can still "shock everyone."