It took Petr Yan years to go from losing his UFC bantamweight title to winning it back again, and he wants Merab Dvalishvili to experience a taste of that too.<\/p>\n
Yan shocked a lot of people at UFC 323 by dominating Dvalishvili<\/a> en route to a 49-46, 49-46, 48-47 decision win, earning back the belt he lost to Aljamain Sterling in 2021 due to an illegal knee DQ. \u201cNo Mercy\u201d then suffered a number of setbacks, from questionable decisions to injuries. But he turned things around over the last 12 months to go on a three fight win before capping 2025 off with a masterclass<\/a> on how to beat the seemingly unbeatable Dvalishvili.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s an incredible feeling,\u201d Yan said through a translator at the UFC 323 post-fight press conference.<\/a> \u201cWith rematches, I said it before, I do better. It\u2019s like I\u2019m more intelligent in the rematches. And of course, this [belt] right here, this is the motivation.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere wasn\u2019t actually a moment when I realized the fight was mine,\u201d he said of his impressive performance. \u201cI knew that the entire time I had to push my initiative. I had to make sure to give damage, to damage him \u2026 I\u2019m fighting in the champion\u2019s hometown. This is his backyard. I flew thirty hours to get here. I knew that in order for the belt to go in my hands, I had to make sure to leave no stone unturned. No questions.\u201d<\/p>\n There was no question that Yan was better than Dvalishvili last night, but with the two now 1-1, Merab wants a rubber match to settle the score.<\/p>\n \u201dI think Merab should really just get the boys, get into the jacuzzi,<\/a> think about it, and then we\u2019ll see,\u201d Yan said before suggesting Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov fight for a No.1 contender bout. \u201cThey can rematch, and then we can see what happens \u2026 For me to get the opportunity to fight for the belt again, UFC made me go three more fights before I was able to get into the contender position.\u201d<\/p>\n That ignores the fact that Yan got an immediate interim title shot after losing his belt to Sterling via DQ. It was only after a three-fight losing streak and one year injury hiatus that he had to run the gauntlet to get back into the contender\u2019s circle. Regardless, Yan said he wouldn\u2019t be fussy with the UFC\u2019s choices.<\/p>\n \u201cI never chose what to do as a champion, I never chose my opponents,\u201d he said. \u201cWhatever the UFC tells me to do, let\u2019s go. Pedal to the metal. Smash everybody \u2026 I don\u2019t care. I I flew thirty hours to get here. Put me in Alaska or anywhere. Twelve hour time difference, completely different climates, continents. Just tell me where. That\u2019s it.\u201d<\/p>\n A question inevitably came up regarding Sean O\u2019Malley, who also holds a win over Yan<\/a> from the Russian\u2019s skid era. Would Petr like to avenge that loss?<\/p>\n \u201cI heard that he didn\u2019t like that I said he looks like a lady from corner, and then he saw himself and he was like, \u2018Oh, boy,\u2019\u201d Yan joked. \u201cMaybe he was right and I had to change myself. I just saw a video of him a couple of hours ago and he still looks the same. He didn\u2019t change. What the heck do I need him for? I want people to improve themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n