Petr Yan retains UFC bantamweight title at UFC 333

Petr Yan successfully defended his UFC bantamweight title at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi, defeating Merab Dvalishvili via unanimous decision. The victory concluded a trilogy between the two fighters, with Yan winning the series 2-1. Despite a strong start from Dvalishvili, Yan utilized effective striking and takedown defense to secure the win.

Following the bout, former champion Sean O’Malley expressed interest in a rematch with Yan, noting that he remains a top contender after recent victories over Song Yadong and Aiemann Zahabi. O’Malley expressed surprise that Yan did not call him out during post-fight interviews, instead mentioning a potential rematch with Song Yadong.

Merab Dvalishvili released a statement following the loss, asserting that he remains healthy and motivated to return to the Octagon. Meanwhile, O’Malley’s coach, Tim Welch, suggested that Yan may be hesitant to face O’Malley due to the specific stylistic challenges the former champion presents.