Petr Yan requires rematch in opposition to UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili

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

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

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

“I already beat each Sean O’Malley and (Cory) Sandhagen,” Yan mentioned by way of 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 bit of the bantamweight title he misplaced to Aljamain Sterling within the earlier struggle as a consequence of an unlawful knee. The next fights, a unification rematch in opposition to Sterling and a bout in opposition to now-former champion Sean O’Malley, have been heartbreaking split-decision losses that he believes have been victories.

As a result of these outcomes, some started writing Yan off as one of many elites within the division, which can have been untimely. The following struggle in opposition to Dvalishvili, which he misplaced by unanimous determination, solely made that chatter develop louder.

Nevertheless, Yan has since gained two straight, and seems to be totally again on observe after defeating Tune Yadong and Figueiredo.

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

Yan is at the moment ranked No. 3 within the promotion’s bantamweight rankings, with solely Umar Nurmagomedov and O’Malley forward of him. Dvalishvili, who gained the title at UFC 306, doesn’t have his first title protection scheduled, however Yan appears to consider extra work might be essential to get a title shot in opposition to Dvalishvili.

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

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