Merab Dvalishvili Pushes for Petr Yan Trilogy as Back Surgery Sidelines Champion

Dvalishvili says the UFC guaranteed him a title shot, with supporters calling for an April–May date after clearance.

Overview

Petr Yan recently underwent lower-back surgery and is expected to be out for roughly two to three months, delaying a previously anticipated early-2026 trilogy.
Merab Dvalishvili posted an Instagram video joking he would send Yan a free jacuzzi to speed recovery so their third fight can happen sooner.
The rivalry stands at 1–1 after Yan won the belt at UFC 323, which followed Dvalishvili’s defenses against Umar Nurmagomedov, Sean O’Malley and Cory Sandhagen.
Teammate Aljamain Sterling advised Dvalishvili to return to his first-fight approach by setting the tempo early and pushing the pace rather than engaging prolonged stand-up exchanges.
Khabib Nurmagomedov endorsed a rematch in April or May and suggested Umar Nurmagomedov and Sean O’Malley face other opponents, with the more impressive winner earning the next title shot.