Merab Dvalishvili defeated in championship bout against Petr Yan

In the UFC 333 championship bout held at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, Merab Dvalishvili was defeated by Petr Yan. The Russian fighter retained the title. Information regarding the judges' decision is conflicting: 1tv reports that the decision was unanimous, while Tabula writes that the score was 3:2 in favor of Petr Yan. Rustavi 2+4

During the fight, the Georgian fighter actively tried to take the initiative, use tactics, and maintain constant pressure on his opponent. After the fight ended, Dvalishvili stated that Yan was the better fighter and wished him success. Rustavi 2+1

This was the third encounter between the athletes. The first fight ended in March 2023 with a victory for Dvalishvili, while in the rematch held in December 2025, Yan won. Publika notes that until now, the fighters had each secured one victory against the other. Rustavi 2+2