Overview
- Merab Dvalishvili is in an active training camp in early August 2026 and has said he is “training smart” with the goal of regaining the bantamweight title.
- He has added a private wrestling coach known as Coach Jesse and is doing one-on-one wrestling sessions at a Las Vegas gym to sharpen specific positions and timing.
- Dvalishvili framed the change as a response to his unanimous-decision loss to Petr Yan at UFC 323 and said he fought that rematch with a previously undisclosed knee injury.
- Petr Yan underwent lower-back surgery earlier this year and is reported to be back in the gym, but the UFC has not yet scheduled the third fight.
- Dvalishvili’s activity outside the UFC, including RAF appearances and a booked crossover bout, plus his training shift, could accelerate pressure on the UFC to set a date and will shape fight tactics and promotion for the division.