Today's Edition
KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili prepare for their trilogy fight this weekend at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi with the bantamweight championship on the line.
The two athletes met with media members to discuss their preparations, tactical adjustments, and the significance of settling their long-standing rivalry inside the cage.
Dvalishvili dominated their first clash in 2023 with 11 takedowns. Yan got payback in 2025, showing improved takedown defence paired with high-volume striking.
Yan is approaching the tie-breaker with the conviction that his fundamental approach requires no major alteration. "What has changed? In general, it's especially strong, nothing at all has changed. We understand the strengths of our opponent, we understand our strengths. Based on this, we are already forming it," Yan explained.
He noted that analytical work with his coaching staff and consistent training routines have kept him grounded rather than leading him to reinvent his style.
Challenger Merab Dvalishvili approaches the fight with a reflective mindset following his defeat in their second encounter. He admitted that his usual grappling and striking rhythm came unstuck during that bout. "I lost the control in this fight against Yan. Nothing was working. My striking wasn't working. My wrestling wasn't working. That's where I realised I can't put things together," Dvalishvili said.
Rather than attempting to force the same tactical pressure, the challenger has spent the past 10 months refining his approach. "I'm not really focused on the takedown. I have a different strategy. I think it's going to be domination this time like it was first time."
While the bantamweight belt beckons, Dvalishvili emphasised that the opportunity to test himself against the division's elite remains his primary motivator. "Even when I was fighting first time against Sean O'Malley, I wanted to fight him because he was the most dangerous guy at the moment. And I was focused on him. I was never focused on the belt. And it's the same thing now," he said.
He added that past intense personal animosity has given way to a strictly professional focus on athletic performance. "This time his trash talk and disrespect don't bother me because most important is to win against him and answer that way."
Yan similarly values the closure that a definitive trilogy conclusion will bring to the division, pointing out that clear victories and losses must be properly addressed before looking toward other potential contenders like Song Yadong.
Despite external commentary regarding the physical toll of previous surgeries and prolonged training camps, Yan dismissed any concerns over his readiness. Reflecting on his longevity and the physical demands of championship rounds, he emphasised that preparation and mental resilience have defined his career trajectory.
Both fighters spent time away from the sport to attend to other aspects of their careers. Dvalishvili focused on expanding his gym infrastructure in Las Vegas and Georgia, while maintaining a steady training regimen.
Yan refined his camp dynamics, involving close training partners and managing the intense demands of high-level mixed martial arts preparation. As fight night approaches at the Etihad Arena, both competitors understand that execution under pressure will determine who leaves Abu Dhabi with the championship belt.
