Umar Nurmagomedov Warns Petr Yan of Merab Dvalishvili ‘Mauling’ in Title Rematch

Dagestani bantamweight Umar Nurmagomedov weighs in on Merab Dvalishvili vs Petr Yan at UFC 323 and sends a word of warning to Yan.

Umar Nurmagomedov Warns Petr Yan of Merab Dvalishvili ‘Mauling’ in Title Rematch

Umar Nurmagomedov warns Petr Yan to knockout Merab Dvalishvili (via MMA Fighting, MSN)

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The bantamweight title picture continues to circle familiar names, with a booked rematch between Merab Dvalishvili and Petr Yan now confirmed for UFC 323. Both fighters have remained at the top of the division since their first meeting and remain part of the core rotation of contenders. Bantamweight contender Umar Nurmagomedov recently analyzed how their rematch may play out.

Dvalishvili defeated Yan in their March 2023 main event through sustained control and output across all five rounds. That performance extended his win streak and reinforced his standing as an endurance-driven pressure wrestler, demonstrating the ability to maintain pace without deterioration throughout the bout. Ever since then, Dvalishvili has improved his prowess and almost cleared out the entire division.

Nurmagomedov, on the other hand, is awaiting a rematch against the Georgian champion after losing their first meeting at UFC 311. However, Nurmagomedov also praised Dvalishvili’s record-breaking title defenses in a year and termed him the ‘Fighter of the Year’. He recently spoke about how the upcoming title rematch between Yan and Dvalishvili would play out.

From their last fight Merab became much better. [Petr Yan] can TKO him. But if he won’t, Merab will maul him.

Umar Nurmagomedov via Weighing In

Yan has competed in multiple main events and title fights prior to and after the Dvalishvili result, with a record that includes championship rounds against Aljamain Sterling, Cory Sandhagen, and José Aldo. His offensive reliability historically emerged in striking-stable phases, while extended defensive wrestling phases have moderated his scoring output in past tape.

Nurmagomedov faced off against Dvalishvili at UFC 311 and lost via unanimous decision. However, the Dagestani native tested Dvalishvili’s striking with stuffed takedown attempts and offensive striking. Nurmagomedov also revealed that he suffered a broken hand in the first round. The same injury sidelined him for months together.

However, Nurmagomedov is set to make a comeback against #8-ranked bantamweight Mario Bautista at UFC 321. The bout is pivotal for the young Dagestani as his hopes for an immediate title rematch were denied due to his performance in January. It remains to be seen if the result of Merab Dvalishvili vs Petr Yan will affect Umar Nurmagomedov’s dream of becoming a champion.

Umar Nurmagomedov vows to make his comeback fight entertaining

Umar Nurmagomedov is scheduled to compete at UFC 321 in what will be his first appearance since extended inactivity interrupted the Nurmagomedov team’s fight calendar at the elite tier. His return continues the family’s active participation across multiple weight classes following a period in which no Nurmagomedov fought inside the UFC cage for several consecutive cards.

Umar Nurmagomedov vs Mario Bautista at UFC 321
Umar Nurmagomedov vs Mario Bautista at UFC 321 (via MMA Fighting, Instagram)

Mario Bautista enters the bout on an eight-fight winning streak, a run compiled entirely inside the UFC with wins over some elite competition, such as Jose Aldo, Patchy Mix, and Da’Mon Blackshear. He is among the division’s most active and consistently successful bantamweights in recent match cycles. However, Nurmagomedov recently promised ti showcase his striking prowess at UFC 321.

I think the fans have to watch this fight because two high-level strikers will show who’s better, and they’re gonna see how Nurmagomedov’s comeback.

Umar Nurmagomedov via TMZ Sports

The Nurmagomedov lineage has already produced top-end champions across promotions. Khabib Nurmagomedov ended his UFC run as an undefeated lightweight titleholder, and Usman Nurmagomedov captured the PFL lightweight belt. Their ascent established a track record of the family reaching and sustaining championship-level performance in major organizations.

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