ABU DHABI – Merab Dvalishvili's record-breaking takedown attempts weren't enough to dethrone Petr Yan.
Bantamweight champion Yan (20-5 MMA, 12-4 UFC) got the last laugh when he defeated Merab Dvalishvili (21-5 MMA, 14-3 UFC) by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47). The bantamweight title fight was the UFC 333 co-main event at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
A title fight for the ages!
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Dvalishvili fired first with a hard leg kick. He then connected with a big right hand. "The Machine" shot in for a single leg, but Yan flipped out of it. Dvalishvili got deep into a body lock, but Yan broke free. Dvalishvili shot again and got Yan down briefly, but it didn't last. Yan continued to stalk, but wasn't throwing much. Dvalishvili shot for a single-leg again, but Yan shucked him off. Yan connected with a straight left. Dvalishvili got Yan down momentarily and took his back, but Yan popped back up. Dvalishvili ducked under a big Yan right and took him down. Yan got back up, but Dvalishvili kept a hold of him and threw some knees and punches to end Round 1.
In Round 2, Dvalishvili connected with a head kick and a right hand. Yan landed with a one-two combination as Dvalishvili fired back. Dvalishvili dragged Yan down and tried to take his back, but Yan reversed him and threw some punches. Dvalishvili once again grabbed hold of Yan as the crowd booed. Every time Yan would break free, Dvalishvili would grab him again. This time, Dvalishvili got him down, but Yan got back up again. Dvalishvili connected with a right and a left. Yan continued to pop back up from Dvalishvili's takedowns. Yan connected with a left, followed by a head kick.
Merab is RELENTLESS with the pressure!
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Round 3 started with Yan pressuring and looking for the home run. Dvalishvili was landing more as he backpedaled. Dvalishvili ducked under another Yan right and worked for a takedown against the fence. Yan landed a right and stuffed three straight Dvalishvili takedowns with ease – and then he landed a big right hand. Yan was getting in a flow state offensively as he cracked Dvalishvili with a left. Yan hurt Dvalishvili badly with a left body kick then rocked him with a combination. He stuffed Dvalishvili's takedown as Dvalishvili appeared to be in big trouble as the round ended. The momentum was shifting.
BIG right hand by the champ!
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Yan stuffed a Dvalishvili takedown to start Round 4. He continued to stuff his takedowns and press forward. Yan connected with a big left. He was finding a home for his left as he pressured Dvalishvili. Yan stuffed another Dvalishvili takedown. And again. Yan threw hard to the body as he continued his relentless pace. Yan landed a nice elbow. Dvalishvili was starting to miss all his shots as Yan stalked him. Yan landed another left. Dvalishvili was actively throwing, but couldn't get Yan's attention on any of them.
Dvalishvili stormed into Round 5 with a big right and a takedown attempt. Yan fired back with a combination. Yan decided to surprise Dvalishvili with a takedown attempt of his own. Yan stuffed a couple of Dvalishvili takedowns and pressed forward with a combination. Dvalishvili was trying to connect with a big shot, but Yan was making the defensive reads. Yan connected with a body kick and a knee. Dvalishvili continued to fight hard, but was failing to land anything significant. Yan landed a jumping knee that connected to the body. Yan wobbled Dvalishvili with a big combination. After losing the first two rounds, Yan figured out Dvalishvili's timing and took over to win the fight.
A title fight for the ages!
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After the fight, Yan said he'd fight Song Yadong or anyone UFC puts in front of him.
"Give me Song Yadong, give me King Kong! Give me anybody! Just make the weight, and I will take you down," Yan said through an interpreter in his post-fight interview with Daniel Cormier.
"Give me Song Yadong, give me King Kong! Give me anybody! Just make the weight and I will take you down!" - @PetrYanUFC
— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) October 24, 2026
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Up-to-the-minute UFC 333 results include:
- Petr Yan def. Merab Dvalishvili via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47) – to defend bantamweight title
- Lone'er Kavanagh def. Ramazan Temirov via TKO (punches) - Round 1, 4:28
- Alexander Volkov def. Rizvan Kuniev via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
- Aaron Pico def. Losene Keita via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:14
- Dominick Reyes def. Azamat Murzakanov via KO (headkick)– Round 1, 2:40
- Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev def. Nikita Krylov via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:38
- Abus Magomedov def. Cam Rowston via submission(guillotine choke) – Round 1, 1:44
- Grant Dawson def. Nurullo Aliev via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
- Colby Thicknesse def. Asaf Chopurov via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
- Daniel Santos def. Bolaji Oki via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Kody Steele def. Noah Gugnon via KO (punch) – Round 1, 3:54
- Iasmin Lucindo def. Nicolle Caliari via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 333 results: Champ Petr Yan styles on Merab Dvalishvili late to win trilogy