Ali Akbar Rosady
Former UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili is navigating a period of indefinite waiting as the anticipated trilogy bout against current champion Petr Yan remains unscheduled. Dvalishvili, known for his relentless activity during his championship reign, finds himself in the unfamiliar position of a challenger awaiting the champion’s return, a situation he acknowledges comes with reduced influence over fight scheduling. The delay stems primarily from Yan’s recovery from back surgery following their December title clash, which saw Yan claim the bantamweight strap and even their series at one win apiece.
Dvalishvili, who previously established a reputation for being one of the most active champions in UFC history, including an ambition to defend his title four times in a single calendar year, dropped the bantamweight championship to Yan in a decisive contest last December. Following the loss, Dvalishvili took a brief hiatus for recovery but has since confirmed his readiness to compete. However, the timeline for a rubber match hinges on Yan’s availability, with no definitive date communicated from the champion’s camp or the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
"I don’t hear anything from him," Dvalishvili informed MMA Fighting regarding Yan’s status. "He don’t want to fight yet. I don’t know what is the situation. We all see his interview, he was ready in June for the White House but they have already announced the July fight card. They’re going to announce the August fight card soon." Dvalishvili expressed a clear lack of official updates, adding, "They haven’t told me anything. All I know is I’m fighting Yan but I don’t know when. I don’t know the time. It looks like Petr is taking his time."
The two fighters share a competitive history that currently stands at 1-1. Their initial encounter saw Dvalishvili secure a lopsided decision victory, setting the stage for the highly anticipated championship rematch in December. Yan’s victory in that second bout not only saw him capture the bantamweight title but also necessitated a period of recovery due to back surgery. While such medical interventions naturally prolong a fighter’s absence, the ongoing silence regarding Yan’s return date has left Dvalishvili and the bantamweight division in a state of limbo.
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Dvalishvili, with a professional mixed martial arts record reflecting his consistent performance at the elite level (though specific numbers are currently unconfirmed, his track record demonstrates a fighter consistently in contention for the title), understands the dynamics of the sport when no longer holding the championship belt. "Hey, this is the game we’re in," Dvalishvili commented on the waiting period. "Sometimes you have to wait. When I was champion, I can push the UFC, I can tell [them] ‘hey, UFC keep me busy, I want to fight soon’ and the UFC keeps me busy." He contrasted this with his current standing: "Now I’m not a champion and I have to wait for my opponent. This is the game. This is the situation and I understand. That’s why I was rushing and when I have the opportunity to fight more often, I’ll still do the same. But now unfortunately I have to wait for him."
In the interim, Dvalishvili has sought alternative avenues to maintain his competitive edge and remain active. This pursuit led him to sign with the Real Action Federation (RAF), a wrestling promotion, for a high-profile wrestling debut. His initial opponent for the RAF 9 event was slated to be former two-division UFC champion and Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo. However, Cejudo withdrew from the card at the last minute, necessitating a change in opponent. Dvalishvili’s debut has now been rescheduled, pitting him against UFC Hall of Famer and former Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar.
The matchup with Edgar, who boasts an impressive professional mixed martial arts record (24-11-1) and a significant wrestling pedigree, presents a unique challenge for Dvalishvili. Edgar was a four-time NCAA qualifier during his collegiate career at Clarion University and has extensive experience coaching, including a tenure at Rutgers University where he worked with Olympic bronze medalist Sebastian Rivera. Dvalishvili, while primarily known for his judo base in MMA, has effectively integrated wrestling into his fighting style.
Reflecting on the change of opponent, Dvalishvili stated, "I was disappointed when my wrestling match got canceled against Henry Cejudo but they offered me Frankie Edgar for May 30 and I’m excited." He acknowledged the respect he holds for his opponent: "But at the same time I have so much respect for Frankie Edgar. The good thing is I’m still focused on MMA." Dvalishvili views this wrestling engagement as an opportunity for competitive enjoyment and skill refinement rather than a career pivot. "Wrestling, I’m just going to go have fun and do my best in wrestling. I’m still training MMA. I’m not trying to become a wrestler," he clarified. He expressed optimism about the stylistic matchup, noting, "I think it’s a good matchup because Frankie Edgar has a wrestling background and he’s a wrestler. I’m a judo guy but I am a good MMA wrestler so let’s see."
Dvalishvili also indicated his openness to revisiting the potential Cejudo matchup in the future, particularly if the RAF promotion opts to stage an event in his home country of Georgia. "Hopefully he will come back soon," Dvalishvili said of Cejudo. "RAF wants to go to Georgia and hopefully we can wrestle in Georgia, me and Henry Cejudo. It will be a great match."
While his primary objective remains reclaiming the UFC bantamweight title, Dvalishvili expressed gratitude for the opportunity to remain active through RAF during the protracted wait for Yan. His training regimen remains unwavering, ensuring he is prepared irrespective of the official fight announcement. "I want to be busy," Dvalishvili affirmed. "That’s why I’m doing this RAF. I like the competition, challenge myself, give people an [entertaining] fight in wrestling. I’m staying busy and just keep challenging myself. I’m fine. I’m waiting for Petr Yan patiently. He’s taking his time and let’s see when the champion wants to come back and fight me."
Dvalishvili’s commitment to continuous readiness underscores his professional approach. "I’m training always. It doesn’t matter if I have a fight or not. I’m always training like I’m preparing for the fight. To be honest, I don’t know what’s different between having [training] camp or not having camp. I’m always ready. If they give me a fight next week, I am ready," he concluded, emphasizing his perpetual state of preparedness for the call to challenge for the bantamweight championship once more.
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