Merab Dvalishvili dared to be great but came up short in his bid to defend the UFC bantamweight title four times in the same calendar year.
It was a feat that had never been accomplished before and that remains the same after Dvalishvili lost a unanimous decision to Petr Yan in the UFC 323 main event. Following the event, Dvalishvili released a statement addressing his loss while also vowing to come back better when he eventually returns to action in 2026.
“Tonight wasn’t my night, but I will back stronger than ever,” Dvalishvili wrote on Twitter. “Thank you everyone for your support.”
After beating Umar Nurmagomedov, Sean O’Malley and Cory Sandhagen in consecutive title defenses, Dvalishvili immediately declared plans for one more fight before 2025 came to an end. So the promotion booked him in a rematch against Yan in the UFC 323 main event.
In their first encounter, Dvalishvili pushed a punishing pace while attempting 49 takedowns across five rounds before ultimately winning a one-sided decision over Yan.
Nearly three years later, Yan finally got his rematch and he certainly made the most of it.
Yan showcased blistering power and technique with his strikes including a devastating lead jab that transformed Dvalishvili’s face into a bloody mess by the end of the fight. He also brutalized Dvalishvili’s midsection with a series of thudding body shots — both punches and kicks — that had the Georgian fighter reeling.
There were a few moments where it appeared Yan might deliver a finish but Dvalishvili refused to go away no matter how badly he was hurt.
Unfortunately that wasn’t enough to turn the tide as Dvalishvili lost the decision and with it his UFC bantamweight title.
Following the event, UFC CEO Dana White posted a photo of Dvalishvili from backstage showing all the damage done from his five round war with Yan along with the caption “savage!”
Now Yan can enjoy a second reign as champion while also pocketing an extra $50,000 for his part in the Fight of the Night at UFC 323.
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