UFC champion Merab Dvalishvili was surprised by Petr Yan's recent Vechtnieuws.
This year Bantamweight Gold is on the second time when Merab Dvalishvili defends his title against Sean O'Malley on UFC 316 next weekend.
It is an immediate rematch for O'Malley after he lost to Dvalishvili by decision on UFC 306 last September.
Before O'Malley got the shot, former champion and #2-ranged competitor Petr Yan were also in the title interview, after he had won back-to-back fights against Song Yadong and Deiveson Figueiredo.
A week from Dvalishvili vs. O'Malley 2 reportedly booked the UFC against #13-ranged competitions and O'Malley's teammate Marcus Mcghee at UFC Abu Dhabi.
Dvalishvili did not expect his former enemy to fight Yan again for an important reason.
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Merab Dvalishvili thought Petr Yan was the next one for the UFC title
Dvalishvili responded to Yan's coming fight against Mcghee and said he had the impression that Yan would fight for the UFC belt, because there are not many other top candidates on winning stripes.
“It's a tough test for Petr Yan,” Dvalishvili told Helen Yee.
“Wow … I thought he fought for the belt, and now he has to fight another competition.
“That means that our division is very stuck. It is not easy to fight for the belt.
'Good luck for him. Of course I will cheer [for] it. We fight, I always share [support] To the man I fought. So it will be a tough test for him, but I am sure he will get it. “
Dvalishvili defeated Yan via a unanimous decision in March 2023 and won each round on the jury's score cards.
Yan was also mentioned as a first title defense for O'Malley, he was allowed to beat DvalishVili on UFC 316.
Merab Dvalishvili sees Cory Sandhagen as a potential fight after UFC 316
Of course Yan is not the only bantam weight candidate who fights for a title shot.
Winner of four of his last five fights, the #4-ranged Cory Sandhagen has called for the title after his victory over Diveson Figueiredo at UFC des Moines earlier this month.
“I think Sandhagen is now ready,” said Dvalishvili about the American.
“We never fought against each other …
“Maybe, I'm not sure,” said Dvalishhvili about a potential fight with Sandhagen.
“Whatever the UFC will decide. Whatever UFC thinks the fresh man and the most deserving man [is]I will fight. “