Merab Dvalishvili baffled by Petr Yan fighting Sean O’Malley’s teammate: ‘Our division is very stuck’

UFC champ Merab Dvalishvili was taken aback by Petr Yan’s recent fight news.

Bantamweight gold is on the line for a second time this year when Merab Dvalishvili defends his title against Sean O’Malley at UFC 316 next weekend.

It’s an immediate rematch for O’Malley after he lost to Dvalishvili by decision at UFC 306 last September.

Before O’Malley got the shot, former champion and #2-ranked contender Petr Yan was also in the title conversation, having won back-to-back fights against Song Yadong and Deiveson Figueiredo.

A week out from Dvalishvili vs. O’Malley 2, the UFC has reportedly booked Yan against #13-ranked contender and O’Malley’s teammate Marcus McGhee at UFC Abu Dhabi.

Dvalishvili wasn’t expecting his former foe Yan to fight again for one key reason.

READ MORE: ‘That can’t be good’ … Sean O’Malley shares ‘crazy’ premonition of UFC title loss to Merab Dvalishvili

Photo by Louis Grasse/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesMerab Dvalishvili thought Petr Yan was next for the UFC titleReacting to Yan’s upcoming fight against McGhee, Dvalishvili said he was under the impression Yan would be fighting for the UFC belt next as there aren’t many other top contenders on winning streaks.

“It’s a tough test for Petr Yan,” Dvalishvili told Helen Yee.

“Wow… I thought he was fighting for the belt, and now he has to fight another contender.

“That means that our division is very stuck. It’s not easy to fight for the belt.

“Good luck to him. Of course, I will be cheering [for] him. We fight, I always share [support] to the guy I fought. So, it’s gonna be a tough test for him, but I’m sure he will get it.”

Dvalishvili defeated Yan via unanimous decision in March 2023, winning every round on the judges’ scorecards.

Yan was also mentioned as a first title defense for O’Malley, should he beat Dvalishvili at UFC 316.

Merab Dvalishvili sees Cory Sandhagen as a potential fight after UFC 316Of course, Yan isn’t the only bantamweight contender who is vying for a title shot.

Winner of four of his last five fights, the #4-ranked Cory Sandhagen has been calling for the title after his win over Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC Des Moines earlier this month.

“I think right now, Sandhagen is ready,” Dvalishvili said of the American.

“We never fought each other…

“Maybe, I’m not sure,” Dvalishvili said of a potential fight with Sandhagen.

“Whatever the UFC will decide. Whatever UFC thinks the fresh guy and the most deserving guy [is], I will fight.”