Petr Yan requires rematch towards UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili

Petr Yan proved he’s nonetheless among the many elite within the UFC’s bantamweight division together with his efficiency in the principle occasion of UFC Fight Night 248, and he needs to run it again towards now-champion Merab Dvalishvili.

Former UFC bantamweight champion Yan (18-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC) emerged victorious in a thriller towards former flyweight titleholder Deiveson Figueiredo. Yan swept the scorecards towards Figueiredo (24-4-1 MMA, 13-4-1 UFC) to win his second consecutive unanimous determination.

Wanting forward, Yan needs to reclaim UFC gold. For “No Mercy,” there’s not many obstacles in his method.

“I already beat each Sean O’Malley and (Cory) Sandhagen,” Yan stated via an interpreter at a post-fight information convention. “I already beat them earlier than.”

Yan defeated Sandhagen by unanimous determination at UFC 267 in 2021, reclaiming a chunk of the bantamweight title he misplaced to Aljamain Sterling within the earlier battle because of an unlawful knee. The next fights, a unification rematch towards Sterling and a bout towards now-former champion Sean O’Malley, had been heartbreaking split-decision losses that he believes had been victories.

Attributable to these outcomes, some started writing Yan off as one of many elites within the division, which can have been untimely. The subsequent battle towards Dvalishvili, which he misplaced by unanimous determination, solely made that chatter develop louder.

Nonetheless, Yan has since received two straight, and seems to be absolutely again on monitor after defeating Music Yadong and Figueiredo.

“Merab, let’s do it once more,” Yan stated. “I’m prepared to speak a couple of rematch, and I imagine it’s going to be a really thrilling battle.”

Yan is presently ranked No. 3 within the promotion’s bantamweight rankings, with solely Umar Nurmagomedov and O’Malley forward of him. Dvalishvili, who received the title at UFC 306, doesn’t have his first title protection scheduled, however Yan appears to imagine extra work may very well be essential to get a title shot towards Dvalishvili.

“It’s my second win in a row,” Yan stated. “I beat actually robust opponents who had been on profitable streaks too. Step-by-step, we’re getting there. We’re going to get these rematches and a title battle.”

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC Fight Night 248.