Overview
- Petr Yan told The Ariel Helwani Show he is nearing full recovery from January lumbar surgery and urged the UFC to let him compete at the planned White House event, asking the promotion to set politics aside.
- Yan said that if the White House slot does not materialize, he would like to defend his bantamweight title in July or August.
- Merab Dvalishvili reiterated that the UFC assured him the next title opportunity and stated he will wait for a trilogy with Yan rather than take another fight.
- The rivalry is 1–1 after Yan’s unanimous decision win at UFC 323 in December 2025; Dvalishvili acknowledged he was banged up beforehand but emphasized he offers no excuses and wants a decisive third bout.
- Reports have floated a potential interim fight involving Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley during Yan’s layoff, but the UFC has not confirmed any booking or interim-belt plan.