Merab Dvalishvili Confronts Petr Yan on Stage Over ‘Broken Arm’ Excuse for Losing First Fight

UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili and rival Petr Yan got into a heated back-and-forth at the UFC 323 press conference.

Merab Dvalishvili Confronts Petr Yan on Stage Over ‘Broken Arm’ Excuse for Losing First Fight

Merab Dvalishvili and Petr Yan in their first fight (via X)

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Saturday’s UFC 323 will feature the final PPV card in the UFC – ESPN era. Merab Dvalishvili meets Petr Yan in a highly anticipated bantamweight showdown headlining the stacked event. The Georgian star enters his fourth title fight in 2025, showing remarkable consistency rarely witnessed in modern MMA history throughout championship campaigns.

Determined to maintain his dominant title reign, Dvalishvili aims to overwhelm Yan with relentless pressure while securing another emphatic victory. Merab Dvalishvili faces the Russian rival again after previously dominating their first meeting and winning a clear unanimous decision victory.

During that fight, ‘The Machine’ attempted 49 takedowns, setting the record for most TD attempts in a fight while dominating the former champion. Ahead of their rematch, Yan claimed he fought Dvalishvili with one arm during the press conference, provoking a debate.

The champion immediately dismissed such excuses. He asserted confidence and refused to entertain narratives undermining his previous dominant victory.

You are better than this Petr. Stop making excuses. When I beat you on December 6th, what excuse are you going to make? Tell me now, are you going to make an excuse when I beat you again?

Merab Dvalishvili via UFC 323 Press conference 

Merab Dvalishvili dislikes opponents offering excuses and previously criticized Umar Nurmagomedov earlier this year for mentioning injuries following their fight. He explained he also battles frequent injuries throughout demanding training camps yet refuses excuses and still dominates opponents with relentless pressure.

Petr Yan wants revenge and plans to knock out the champion while reclaiming the bantamweight belt this Saturday night. The Russian contender enters UFC 323 riding a three-fight winning streak despite not securing an actual finish in the last 5 years. Dvalishvili has consistently praised Yan’s skills and earlier claimed he genuinely cheered for him to earn another deserved championship opportunity.

However, the champion promises zero mercy, intending to drag Yan deep using unmatched cardio across five grueling rounds. It would be interesting to see whether the ‘Machine’ can achieve the record of the most number of title defenses in a year in UFC history. 

Alaxandre Pantoja doesn’t want to fight Merab Dvalishvili 

Similar to Merab Dvalishvili, Alexandre Pantoja has also established himself as a dominant force within the UFC flyweight division. The Brazilian champion has impressively defended his belt four times while decisively overwhelming most opponents with relentless pace and precision.

In his most recent outing, Pantoja convincingly defeated Kai Kara-France via submission in a dominant outing. The Brazilian’s performance earned widespread praise and conversations about potentially moving up a weight class for the double champ status.

Alexandre Pantoja doesn't want to fight Merab Dvalishvili
Alexandre Pantoja doesn’t want to fight Merab Dvalishvili (via X)

Many analysts believe Pantoja possesses the necessary skills to compete successfully at bantamweight and challenge elite contenders beyond his division. During a recent interview, he addressed such speculation and carefully explained hesitations surrounding an immediate move toward heavier competition.

Maybe when Merab retire, I try to go up for another belt, but Merab is too good. But I have a lot of respect for him. Me, my team, talking about that but we need time to understand, changing my body to 135 lbs. 

Alexandre Pantoja via UFC 323 Media Day

Pantoja has often openly expressed respect for Merab Dvalishvili, consistently praising the champion’s relentless work ethic and unbreakable competitive spirit. According to the Brazilian, both he and the ‘Machine’ remain ready to accept any dangerous opponent on extremely short notice.

This Saturday, Pantoja returns in the co-main event to face rising contender Joshua Van in an electrifying flyweight bout. He enters as the strong betting favorite and believes he will confidently extend his dominant championship reign with another statement victory. Fans are excited to see whether both champions successfully secure impressive wins and maintain their respective momentum.

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