Merab Dvalishvili and Petr Yan (Image Credits: Imagn)

Bantamweight Star Petr Yan Sheds Light on What Went Wrong in First Fight Against Merab Dvalishvili

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports | By Sarthak Khanna | Last updated Mar 19, 2026 3:18 AM ET

One of the most heated rivalries in the UFC world currently is between Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili. Yan has finally opened up about his disappointing first outing against Merab, offering a clear explanation for what went wrong inside the Octagon. The bantamweight champion struggled to match Dvalishvili’s relentless pace, costing him the belt.

Fortunately, Yan managed to regain his belt at UFC 323 on December 6, 2025. In a recent interview, though, Yan has revealed that a significant hand injury played a major role in limiting his performance during their first fight. It impacted both his striking output and ability to control the fight. He admitted that he landed just four punches with his right hand, drastically reducing his offensive threat.

“In the first fight, I landed 4 punches with my right hand. I couldn’t push him back, control him, and wrestle him. [In the second fight]I was ready to fight him. To wrestle with him and strike with him,” Yan stated.

⚡️Petr Yan says the reason he looked so bad in the first fight against Merab is because of his injured hand:

“In the first fight I landed 4 punches with my right hand. I couldn't push him back, control him, and wrestle him.

[In the second fight]I was ready to fight him. To… pic.twitter.com/jmEH2CDu2H
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) March 19, 2026

Without the ability to effectively strike, Yan found it difficult to push Dvalishvili back or establish any meaningful control. By the time the two met again in December 2025, Yan entered the Octagon in far better condition. This helped him secure a crucial win, reclaim his title, and retain his spot in the bantamweight division.

‘The Machine’s Coach Aims to Fix Merab Dvalishvili vs. Petr Yan 3 Soon

Merab is not the type of fighter to give up easily. Despite their defeat to Yan, he and his coach are sure they will soon get back what is theirs. While there has been no official word from Yan expressing a desire for a trilogy bout, Merab has claimed he will defeat Yan soon to regain his title. Recently, his longtime coach, John Wood, shared insights on the same.

“Merab is the type of guy where, if you tell him to do something, he’ll do it,” Wood said. “I think we focused a little too much on chasing finishes, breaking guys and looking for knockouts. When really, Merab just needs to go be Merab. That’s on me to make sure he sticks to what he does best.”

Coach John Wood says Merab tried too hard to get the finish in his title defenses which is what will be fixed in Yan 3rd fight:

"Merab is the type of guy where, if you tell him to do something, he’ll do it. I think we focused a little too much on chasing finishes, breaking… pic.twitter.com/3C89ZlXl1c
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) February 6, 2026

No confirmed date or even timeline has been decided as of now for a trilogy bout. For now, Merab is taking his time, enjoying his champion status, and witnessing other UFC bouts from a distance.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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