UFC champ Merab Dvalishvili: Projected matchup says a lot about bantamweight division
UFC champ Merab Dvalishvili: Projected matchup says a lot about bantamweight division
UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili is confused by the rumored matchmaking for Petr Yan's next fight.
While not yet official, Yan (18-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC) is expected to face Marcus McGhee (10-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) on July 26 at UFC on ABC 9 from Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, according to reports. His most recent loss came to Dvalishvili in March 2023.
With the former bantamweight champion coming off back-to-back wins over Song Yadong and Deiveson Figueiredo, Dvalishvili (19-4 MMA, 12-2 UFC) expected him to be in the title picture, not fighting backwards.
"This is a tough fight actually. The Marcus guy is strong, he looked good, it's a tough test for Petr Yan," Dvalishvili told Helen Yee. "Wow, I thought he was fighting for the belt, and now he has to fight another contender. That means that our division is very stuck, and it's not easy to fight for the belt. Good luck to him. Of course, I will be cheering him. We fought, and I always try to cheer the guys I fought. So, it's going to be a tough test for him, but I'm sure he will get it."
Dvalishvili runs things back with Sean O'Malley (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) in Saturday's UFC 316 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) headliner at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. If he can get past O'Malley a second time, he sees one particular contender as an option for his next title defense.
"I think right now (Cory) Sandhagen is ready, and we never fought each other," Dvalishvili said. "Maybe, I'm not sure. Whatever the UFC will decide. Whatever UFC thinks the fresh guy and the most deserving guy (is), I will fight."
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