Petr Yan raised the stakes for his UFC 333 trilogy with Merab Dvalishvili on Thursday, promising another decisive performance while insisting their previous meeting guarantees nothing.
The bantamweight champion defends his belt Saturday, October 24, at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, with the rivals entering their third meeting level at one win apiece.
Speaking at the pre-fight press conference, Yan emphasized preparation rather than nostalgia. MMA Fighting reported that he intends to dismantle Dvalishvili’s approach through a detailed team plan.
“This machine is going to be taken apart,” Yan said, targeting his opponent’s nickname. The remark captured his confidence without changing the difficulty of the assignment ahead.
That confidence rests on a dramatic reversal. Dvalishvili won their first meeting in March 2023, but Yan reclaimed the championship with a unanimous decision at UFC 323.
The wrestling numbers explain much of that swing. UFC’s official preview records 11 takedowns for Dvalishvili in their opener, compared with two successful attempts in the rematch.
Yan also completed five takedowns himself in that second fight. The contrast matters because it shows the champion did more than simply survive his opponent’s preferred exchanges.
Stopping initial attacks allowed Yan to spend more time working on his own offense. Repeating that balance would force Dvalishvili to find answers beyond sheer forward pressure.
Thursday’s words should still be treated as a fighter’s forecast. Neither an emphatic rematch victory nor a confident press conference settles how a third meeting will unfold.
Dvalishvili has already shown he can control this matchup over five rounds. The question is whether he can restore that rhythm against a champion who adjusted successfully.
Former champion T.J. Dillashaw identified body attacks as a potential difference in his MMA Junkie analysis, published by Yahoo Sports. He favored Yan while anticipating another demanding fight.
Dillashaw encouraged Yan to maintain his defensive wrestling while attacking the midsection more often. He also suggested Dvalishvili could use takedown threats to disrupt the champion’s rhythm.
That distinction makes this more than a simple striker-versus-wrestler story. Threatening a level change can influence an exchange even when the attacker does not complete the takedown.
For Dvalishvili, connecting those threats to effective offense could be essential. For Yan, preserving defensive discipline while landing meaningful strikes offers a route to another successful performance.
Yan brings four consecutive victories into the contest, according to the UFC preview. His resurgence has carried him from a losing stretch back to the divisional championship.
Dvalishvili’s defeat in December ended a 14-fight winning streak. He now has the chance to reclaim the belt immediately against the opponent who interrupted his championship run.
The title doubleheader also features featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski against unbeaten challenger Movsar Evloev. Yan and Dvalishvili occupy the co-main event position on the Abu Dhabi card.
The main card begins at 2 p.m. ET Saturday on Paramount+, according to MMA Mania’s event guide. U.S. viewers get an afternoon start for the doubleheader.
Those stakes leave little room for either man to rely on the past. Their first two meetings produced different winners, making the adjustments central to Saturday’s resolution.
Yan’s message Thursday was unmistakable: he believes he has the answers. UFC 333 will determine whether that confidence survives Dvalishvili’s next attempt to change the terms again.
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