Merab Dvalishvili is once again willing to rush back into the cage… for the right opponent.
The former bantamweight champion returns from an uncharacteristic 10-month layoff to face current champion Petr Yan in a trilogy bout that serves as the co-main event of UFC 333 on Saturday in Abu Dhabi. In 2026, Dvalishvili attempted to become the first fighter in UFC history to successfully defend his belt four times in a calendar year after retaining his title against Cory Sandhagen, Sean O’Malley, and Umar Nurmagomedov. However, Yan put on an all-time great performance to avenge a 2023 loss and deny Dvalishvili his one-of-a-kind accolade.
At media day for UFC 333, Dvalishvili was asked if he will be more careful about booking fights so close together, and responded by suggesting he might actually fight in less than a month at UFC 334 against top contender Song Yadong.
“I don’t regret that I was busy last year and I’m happy even when I lost,” Dvalishvili said. “It’s fine, it’s part of the sport, but if you ask me again to fight Petr Yan two months after I defend my belt, I’m not going to do the same thing right now because I needed more time against Petr Yan.
“But everybody else, I can fight Song Yadong in November in Madison Square Garden.”
Song Yadong forced his way to the front of the bantamweight contender line with a shocking second-round knockout of Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC Shanghai. Though Song has shared the octagon with some of the best fighters in his division, he’d previously fallen short in big fights against Yan, Sandhagen, and Sean O’Malley.
Now, it’s possible he could be face to face with Dvalishvili soon.
“That’s a good idea, actually,” Dvalishvili said when asked if he might face off with Song should he win Saturday. “If UFC will do this, they don’t usually do this, but God willing when I will win against Yan, if they bring Song Yadong, that would be nice because yeah, I think he’s next, that’s a no-brainer.
“When I want to fight, my crazy mind set tells me I should fight November at Madison Square Garden, but I should take time, too, because November I want to open a gym and I should just relax and stuff like this. That would be nice if they bring Song Yadong in.”
Dvalishvili thought about it for another moment before deciding that, win or lose against Yan, a fight with Song might make the most sense.
“I think even if I lost, I should still fight him because if Petr beats me, then [Song] should not fight Yan because Yan already beat him,” Dvalishvili said.