Merab Dvalishvili | Return of The Machine

Former UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili is set to return to action in Abu Dhabi for a trilogy bout against Petr Yan. In 2025, Dvalishvili made three successful title defenses — against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311, Sean O'Malley at UFC 316, and Cory Sandhagen at UFC 320 — tying Aljamain Sterling's divisional record. However, his reign ended when Petr Yan outclassed him at UFC 323 in December 2025, and Dvalishvili now seeks to reclaim the title at what appears to be UFC 333 in 2026.