Former Double Champ Sparks Idea That Petr Yan Has Earned Another UFC Title Shot After UFC Abu Dhabi

Petr Yan is rightly placed with aspirations of another title fight against reigning 135-pound UFC champion, Merab Dvalishvili.

Former Double Champ Sparks Idea That Petr Yan Has Earned Another UFC Title Shot After UFC Abu Dhabi

There's a logical next step for UFC Abu Dhabi winner Petr Yan (Source: X)

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Petr Yan has placed himself in a good spot for another bantamweight title fight after this Saturday’s UFC on ABC 9 in Abu Dhabi. Consequently, per one UFC legend and former divisional champ, Yan’s next assignment should be to challenge Merab Davlishvili and his gold.

For a moment, Petr Yan was out of the top contender conversations and on a three-fight slump, one that included a loss to the current 135-pound UFC champion. However, he is now on a sturdy 3-0 win streak. In his current run, he boasts one over bona fide legend Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC Macau.

After stout challenges against a pair of top-10 contenders, Yan capped off another win over a ranked contender, Marcus McGhee. Now, Yan wants PPV title redemption against champ Merab Dvalishvili, or a rematch of his 2021 interim title win over No.4-ranked Cory Sandhagen. The latter two are to face each other next at UFC 320. Henry Cejudo agrees with the resolute Yan and that he deserves a crack at gold.

Petr Yan vs the winner of Merab/Sandhagen. Book it #UFCAbuDhabi

Henry Cejudo via X (@HenryCejudo)

After some contentious matchups against (alleged) top runners with boss privileges, and having proved himself in banger fights for a while now, Yan has said he deserves his dues. The Russian bantamweight might already be placed for the top shot that Cejudo was pitching.

Following the rife confusion among fans over the McGhee-assignment and matchup, Yan claimed he was guaranteed a shot against the Dvalishvili vs. Sandhagen PPV title matchup victor. However, he chose to close the gap in order to stay active and cement himself as a top contender. Now, after Abu Dhabi, he had made his case.

Another great thing working in his favor is that the champ himself his ready for it, as the Georgian indicated after UFC Abu Dhabi. It is a good thing too, cause the proud Russian bills that as the only loss he counts in his stats in his current run. It is something he’d want to rectify if he gets the title shot.

Petr Yan goes ‘No mercy’, claims Merab Dvalishvili is only legit loss he accepts and wants to change

In 2021, Yan had to forgo the UFC 135-pound title after being disqualified against Aljamain Sterling. Unceremonious defeats vs. ‘Funk Master,’ then against Sean O’Malley in a memorable three-round 2022 war, and one against Merab Dvalishvili later were the only time he lost in the UFC. By then, his chances at recovery were highly dented to the curb.

Petr Yan wants that Merab Dvalishvili rematch more than anything else
Petr Yan wants that Merab Dvalishvili rematch more than anything else (Source: X)

Although he thwarted volume takedowns, trips, and close counters against Dvalishvili, it was a hard-hitting one against ‘Machine’. Dvalishvili logged true 11 takedowns out of a massive 49 attempts and dominated all five rounds. Feeling robbed in the fights against Aljo and ‘Suga’, the Russian star recognizes the Georgian as the only ‘true’ setback that he needs to rectify,

Me, personally, I do not think I had three loss [in row], …I beat Sean O’Malley! [And] decisively. I had a close fight with Aljamain Sterling that I think that I won, …and the only fight I lost was against Merab, and I had reasons for a performance like that…[Merab only true one]. So, myself, I never thought that I had three losses.

Petr Yan through a translator during Fight Week media check-in to UFC.com

After UFC Abu Dhabi, the champ congratulated ‘No Mercy.’ With a future title shot set up, Yan is seriously looking forward to this one. The 32-year-old bantamweight switch-striker iterated as much in his reply to Dvalishvili on X. Now, it’s a waiting game, and given his momentum, Yan could try to make a championship backup role for UFC 320.

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