Dvalishvili named the next opponent after Jan
Georgian and Russian fighters will hold a rematch trilogy at the UFC 333 tournament in Abu Dhabi.
On October 24, in the co-main event of the UFC 333 tournament in Abu Dhabi, Russian Petr Yan will hold the first defense of the title of champion of the lightest division in a rematch trilogy with a Georgian, former belt holder Merab Dvalishvili.
The Georgian athlete hopes to regain his lost championship status and he called the name of the opponent he would like to meet after defeating the Russian.
“If I win, the next one will be Song Yadong. We haven't fought each other yet, he's a dangerous opponent and everyone knows he's got a big shot. If Peter Ian wins, Sean O'Malley will be next, as they already have their own story. This time everything is simple and clear: everyone knows who will be his next opponent, Dvalishvili told MMA Junkie.
The first meeting between the Georgian and the Russian took place in March 2023, in which Merab won by unanimous decision. The second fight took place in December 2025 and in it Peter took revenge, defeating the opponent by a unanimous judicial decision and taking away his championship title. The upcoming trilogy will put an end to the confrontation between representatives of the lightest weight category and determine the best.
