At UFC 320 in Las Vegas, Merab Dvalishvili delivered another stunning example of his relentless wrestling and cardio, defending his UFC Bantamweight championship against Cory Sandhagen by unanimous decision. Dvalishvili racked up an astonishing 20 takedowns, a new UFC single-fight record, over five rounds, dominating Sandhagen with pace, pressure, and positional strength. His performance extended his winning streak to 14 and secured his third successful title defense of 2025, putting him firmly in the “Fighter of the Year” conversation.
The next logical step for Dvalishvili is a highly anticipated rematch with Petr Yan. Both men are among the most accomplished bantamweights on the roster, and Yan, who is currently riding a three-fight win streak since their first meeting, has publicly called for another shot at the champion. Dvalishvili himself has welcomed the rematch, expressing his desire to make it a historic fourth defense before year’s end, possibly in December. Their first clash was one-sided for Dvalishvili, but Yan remains dangerous and has made clear improvements since challenging and defeating multiple top contenders.
Stylistically, this matchup pits Dvalishvili’s unparalleled work rate, grinding wrestling, and iron will against Yan’s crisp boxing, vicious counterstriking, and technical mastery. While Dvalishvili has proven nearly impossible to slow down, Yan’s ability to adapt and his hunger for redemption add extra intrigue. A second bout not only closes the chapter on an unresolved rivalry but also could stamp Dvalishvili as one of the greatest bantamweights in history with another elite scalp on his résumé.
Last Five Fights – Merab Dvalishvili:
1. Win over Cory Sandhagen – Decision (unanimous), UFC 320 (October 4, 2025)
2. Win over Sean O’Malley – Submission, UFC 316 (June 7, 2025)
3. Win over Umar Nurmagomedov – Decision (unanimous), UFC 311 (February 1, 2025)
4. Win over Petr Yan – Decision (unanimous), UFC Fight Night (March 11, 2023)
5. Win over Jose Aldo – Decision (unanimous), UFC 278 (August 20, 2022)
Last Five Fights – Petr Yan:
1. Win over Marcus McGhee – Decision (unanimous), UFC Fight Night (July 26, 2025)
2. Win over Deiveson Figueiredo – Decision (unanimous), UFC Fight Night (November 23, 2024)
3. Win over Song Yadong – Decision (unanimous), UFC 299 (March 9, 2024)
4. Loss to Merab Dvalishvili – Decision (unanimous), UFC Fight Night (March 11, 2023)
5. Loss to Sean O’Malley – Decision (split), UFC 280 (October 22, 2022)
A rematch between Dvalishvili and Yan would be one of the most significant fights of the year in the bantamweight division and could serve as a defining moment for both men’s legacies.