Stunning Stat from Merab Dvalishvili vs. Petr Yan Suggests Difficult UFC 323 Challenge for the Champion

Petr Yan reveals stat from his first meeting with bantamweight kingpin Merab Dvalishvili ahead of UFC 323 rematch.

Stunning Stat from Merab Dvalishvili vs. Petr Yan Suggests Difficult UFC 323 Challenge for the Champion

Stat revealed from Merab Dvalishvili's win against Petr Yan (via X)

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There is no doubt that UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili is edging closer to the division’s GOAT status with dominant performances over the top 10. Dvalishvili is set to rematch Petr Yan at UFC 323, which makes him the first champion in UFC history to defend his belt four times in a year. However, a stat from their first meeting recently resurfaced, which may prove dangerous for the Georgian star.

Across his UFC career, Dvalishvili has built a reputation as one of the most relentless wrestlers in modern mixed martial arts. The Georgian fighter recently became the first athlete in UFC history to surpass 100 total takedowns, reaching 117 successful attempts following his dominant win against Cory Sandhagen at UFC 320. Interestingly, Dvalishvili also enters the December title defense on a fourteen-fight win streak.

Yan, meanwhile, has rebuilt momentum after a turbulent period. Following a series of close decision losses, he re-entered the picture with a trio of victories against the likes of Deiveson Figueiredo, Song Yadong and Marcus McGhee. Known for his boxing, Yan has grown to switch stances, primarily fighting in an orthodox stance throughout his career. He recently spoke about what was different in their first fight.

If you just look at the stats you can see that I only used my right hand 3-4 times. I couldn’t punch with my right hand. I also couldn’t use it to defend the wrestling. Those are just facts. When you compare it to my different fights, that’s the hand I use the most.

Petr Yan via The Ariel Helwani Show

In their first meeting in March 2023, Dvalishvili landed more overall strikes than Yan by a wide margin. According to ESPN, he out-landed Yan 147 to 75 in total strikes. He also reportedly attempted a record 47 takedown attempts, but was able to land 11. The 2023 bout ended in a unanimous decision victory for Dvalishvili, who went on to win the title the very next year.

Yan’s career profile reflects a far more strikingly oriented approach, which has made him one of the most dangerous contenders at 135 pounds. He has averaged just above five significant strikes per minute, with one of the highest accuracy rates in the division at roughly 54 percent. His takedown defense is measured at approximately 85 percent, which has historically made him difficult to dominate in wrestling exchanges.

UFC 323, set in Las Vegas, continues the promotion’s focus on showcasing the lighter weight divisions. Alongside the bantamweight title rematch, the card features the return of former bantamweight kingpin Henry Cejudo against Payton Talbott and a flyweight title fight between Alexandre Pantoja and Joshua Van. The event is a fitting platform for Merab Dvalishvili and Petr Yan to renew their rivalry.

Cory Sandhagen applauds Merab Dvalishvili’s work rate after Petr Yan fight announcement

At UFC 320, Merab Dvalishvili successfully defended his bantamweight title against Cory Sandhagen in a dominant performance. In the second round, Dvalishvili showcased his striking prowess by dropping Sandhagen with a precise combination of punches. Despite this setback, Sandhagen managed to recover and continued to press forward. However, the Georgian champion won via unanimous decision.

Cory Sandhagen applauds Merab Dvalishvili for UFC 323
Cory Sandhagen applauds Merab Dvalishvili for UFC 323 (via Bloody Elbow, Forbes)

Following their intense battle, both fighters shared a moment of mutual respect backstage. Dvalishvili, known for his sportsmanship, acknowledged his opponent’s resilience, while Sandhagen expressed admiration for Dvalishvili’s performance and work ethic. The ‘Sandman’ recently commented on Dvalishvili’s swift turnaround to accept a fight against Petr Yan at UFC 323.

Merab is an animal for that. All the respect in the world for that because he doesn’t have to do that, but he wants to. That dude is a unique individual. Good for him for fighting again that soon because I would never do that.

Cory Sandhagen via The Ariel Helwani Show

Achieving a fourth successful title defense in a single calendar year is unprecedented in UFC history, cementing Merab Dvalishvili’s place among the sport’s all-time greats. While several fighters such as Alex Pereira, Kamaru Usman, Tito Ortiz, and Demetrious Johnson have defended their belts three times in a year, none have matched this level of sustained excellence and activity.

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