Merab Dvalishvili has built a career on chaos, pace, and an almost unmatched willingness to push his body beyond its limits. But as he steps toward his fourth title defence of 2025—an accomplishment no UFC champion has ever achieved—there’s a growing belief that the one man who can take him down may not be Petr Yan, but Merab himself.
The reigning UFC bantamweight champion is preparing to run it back with Yan in the UFC 323 main event this Saturday. Their first bout was a masterclass in cardio and pressure from "The Machine," but Yan insists fans still haven’t seen the real version of him. Injuries, he claims, prevented him from performing at full capacity in 2023. This time, he promises, the outcome will be different.
Still, despite the Russian’s confidence, many within the MMA community believe the biggest storyline heading into December 6 isn’t Yan’s path to revenge—it's Dvalishvili’s punishing schedule, extreme weight cuts, and whether he is pushing his body too far for too long.
And that concern is growing louder.
A Historic Fourth Title Defence Pushes Dvalishvili Into Uncharted Territory
Dvalishvili’s enthusiasm for competing as often as possible has endeared him to fans and UFC officials alike. In an era where champions often fight once or twice a year, Merab is chasing records that were never meant to be broken.
He will step into the Octagon barely two months removed from his grueling five-round victory over Cory Sandhagen. Most champions would take half a year to recover from a fight like that. Merab? He’s sprinting back toward the cage.
The bantamweight title race is stacked—Umar Nurmagomedov, Sean O’Malley, Yan, Cory Sandhagen, and Song Yadong are all legitimate threats. That alone makes Dvalishvili’s ambition even more daring. But fighting four times in a single calendar year, especially in title fights, is a feat so extreme that no previous champion has successfully managed it.
And fans are starting to wonder whether there’s a reason why.
Concerning Signs Appear During Merab’s Weight Cut
In an interview with ESPN MMA, Dvalishvili spoke openly about his preparation and weight cut, offering a glimpse into the physical toll behind his freakish output.
“Now, my weight is high. It’s like a mental game. I know I will make it but like I feel low energy and stuff but I kind of do [it] my way, but it’s always hard.”
As soon as his comments were released, fans flooded social platforms with a mix of humour, admiration, and genuine concern. Some joked that even at “low energy,” he could shoot for 54 takedowns. Others noted that he always sounds drained during fight week.
But many responses carried a different tone—one that suggested Merab’s volume of fights and the strain of repeated weight cuts may finally be catching up with him.
Comments such as “Merab’s approach at cutting weight will be his undoing” and “Don’t be surprised if Merab has a bad performance” highlight a growing belief that the champion’s relentlessness could be the opening Yan needs.
Is Petr Yan Better Positioned This Time?
Historically, Yan has always performed best when he has time to study, adjust, and rebuild between fights. After a rough stretch of injuries and controversial decisions, the former champion is now fully healthy and determined to prove that he is still one of the division’s elite.
Ranked No. 3 in the UFC bantamweight division, he remains one of the most technically gifted boxers in the sport. If cardio becomes less of a factor—whether due to Merab’s pace slowing or the champion entering the fight depleted—Yan’s path to victory becomes far more realistic.
His supporters argue that if Dvalishvili shows even a hint of slowing down, Yan’s striking could change everything.
Recent History Warns Against Overactivity in MMA
Fans concerned about Merab’s nonstop schedule recently pointed to Reinier de Ridder’s comments after his October loss to Brendan Allen. De Ridder admitted that fighting four times in one year had left him mentally and physically exhausted.
He said he “was not himself,” ignoring his body’s signals because he was hyper-focused on climbing the rankings. That defeat—his first inside the UFC—was an important reminder that even highly conditioned athletes have limits.
Unlike many MMA fighters, however, Dvalishvili is known for breaking limits. His legendary gas tank, suffocating wrestling pressure, and tireless pace are the core reasons he became champion. But no athlete, regardless of conditioning, is invincible to overuse.
That’s why fans are drawing parallels. And that’s why some believe Yan has a real chance.
The Tough Reality: Merab Isn’t a “Normal” Fighter—But Bodies Have Limits
Despite the concerns, the other side of the debate is equally passionate. Many fans argue that Merab Dvalishvili is simply built differently. His insane work ethic and relentless pressure style have never shown signs of slowing down. To them, if anyone can fight four title fights in a year, it’s Merab.
And there is truth in that. Dvalishvili thrives in chaos, welcomes exhaustion, and treats pressure like fuel. But the UFC isn’t just about physical strength—it’s about longevity, timing, and managing the delicate balance between readiness and fatigue.
If Merab enters fight night under-recovered or drained, that may finally be enough to tilt the pendulum back toward Petr Yan—who is hungrier than ever to reclaim his status as an elite bantamweight.
The champion is on the brink of making history. But history often comes with a price.
And this Saturday, the world will find out whether Merab Dvalishvili’s unstoppable momentum continues—or whether he has pushed himself too far, too fast, for too long.
