Petr Yan challenges Merab Dvalishvili for the bantamweight title at UFC 323, aiming to overcome Dvalishvili’s potential record-setting fourth title defense of 2025, despite feeling disadvantaged by Dvalishvili’s home-field advantage.
Petr Yan is set to challenge Merab Dvalishvili for the bantamweight title at UFC 323 this Saturday. It’s a pivotal moment, as Dvalishvili aims for his fourth successful title defense in 2025, a potential UFC record.
However, Yan has his reservations. Dvalishvili’s training locations—New Jersey and Las Vegas—give him a perceived home-field advantage. Yan argues this diminishes the achievement.
“It’s very easy to fight in your backyard,” Yan remarked through a translator. He believes fighting at home offers an unfair edge, contrasting it with his own career experiences.
Yan’s UFC journey began in 2018, quickly rising to a title shot. He captured the bantamweight title in 2020 but lost it due to a disqualification. His career has seen ups and downs, including a controversial loss to Aljamain Sterling.
In rematches, Yan is 1-1, having avenged a loss to Magomed Magomedov. He hopes to replicate this success against Dvalishvili, who previously defeated him in March 2023.
Yan feels prepared, stating, “We know each other better now.” He’s determined to improve, drawing confidence from past rematch performances.
Despite winning three fights since facing Dvalishvili, Yan enters Saturday as an underdog. He acknowledges the challenges, facing opponents in their hometowns.
“Just think about this,” Yan said. “I flew across the entire planet. Everything’s against me.” The pressure is immense, but Yan remains undeterred.