Merab Dvalishvili is basically a human cardio machine. We've seen it a hundred times, but the end of 2025 was something different entirely. The Georgian powerhouse didn’t just want to stay active; he wanted to make history. Merab wants to fight in December because he’s chasing a legacy that most champions wouldn't even dream of attempting.
Most guys win a belt and sit on it. They take six months off, go on a world tour, and maybe defend it once a year if the fans are lucky. Merab? He defended that 135-pound strap three times in 2025 before the winter even hit. He took out Umar Nurmagomedov in January, smoked Sean O'Malley in a June rematch, and then out-wrestled Cory Sandhagen in October.
Then he called Dana White. He wanted one more.
The Record-Breaking Ambition of Merab Dvalishvili
The logic was simple, if you’re a lunatic. Merab Dvalishvili aimed to be the first fighter in UFC history to successfully defend a title four times in a single calendar year. That’s why the news broke that merab wants to fight in December. Specifically, he was eyeing the UFC 323 card on December 6, 2025, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
It wasn't just about the record, though. Honestly, there was a lot of personal pride on the line. Merab has always been vocal about the political tension between Georgia and Russia. After his incredible run through the division, a rematch with Petr Yan felt like the only way to put a stamp on the year.
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"Every time we have a competition against Russians, we have to win," Merab told fans leading up to the event. "Russia has occupied my country's territory, and it's personal for me."
But fighting four times at a championship level is a massive ask for the human body. Even for a guy who trains at Syndicate MMA and seemingly never gets tired. His coach, John Wood, admitted that Merab was back in the gym sparring just days after the Sandhagen fight. The man is just built differently.
What Went Down at UFC 323: Dvalishvili vs. Yan 2
So, the fight happened. December 6, 2025.
T-Mobile Arena was packed with 18,603 people. Merab walked in as a heavy favorite, looking to cap off the greatest single year any fighter has ever had. But Petr Yan had spent the last two years evolving. He wasn't the same guy who got out-grappled in their first meeting in 2023.
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Yan came out sharp. He’d clearly been studying the tape from Merab's fight with Sean O'Malley, specifically looking at how "Suga" had success attacking the body. Yan didn't just look for the head; he hammered Merab’s midsection with kicks and precise left hooks.
By the third round, the "Machine" looked human.
Merab kept shooting for takedowns—he finished the year with over 100 successful takedowns in his UFC career—but Yan’s defense was airtight. The Russian was beating Merab to the punch and, more importantly, hurting him. By the fifth round, Merab was more battered and bloodied than we've ever seen him.
- Round 1: High pace, Merab lands a couple of shots, but Yan takes it with a late flurry.
- Round 2: Merab gets a takedown, but Yan pops right back up and lands a massive body kick.
- Round 3: Yan starts timing the entries, catching Merab with a knee that opens a nasty cut.
- Round 4: Pure championship grit. Merab won't stop moving, but Yan is landing the bigger shots.
- Round 5: Yan seals it with a dominant display of striking.
The judges saw it 49-46, 49-46, and 48-47 for Petr Yan. The dream of four title defenses in one year died right there in the desert.
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Looking Ahead to 2026: The Bantamweight Shark Tank
Losing the belt in December was a gut punch for the Georgian fans. However, being the 2025 Fighter of the Year (a title many experts still gave him despite the loss) means Merab isn't going anywhere. He’s already talking about a trilogy.
The division is absolute chaos right now. You’ve got Petr Yan back on the throne. You’ve got Umar Nurmagomedov—who Merab beat earlier in the year—scheduled to fight Deiveson Figueiredo. Then there's Payton Talbott, the kid who just retired Henry Cejudo on that same December card.
Merab’s path back to the gold is clear, but it’s steep. He wants to fight in March 2026, possibly in Washington, D.C. He's also basically said he's done with Umar Nurmagomedov for now, claiming he’s already proved that point.
Actionable Steps for MMA Fans
If you're following Merab's journey and want to stay ahead of the curve, here is what you need to keep an eye on:
- Track the Bantamweight Rankings: Watch the fallout of UFC 324. If Umar beats Figueiredo, the UFC might skip the Merab/Yan trilogy to give Umar another shot.
- Monitor Injury Reports: Merab fought four times in 2025. That kind of mileage often leads to long-term issues. Check his social media for updates on his recovery before betting on a March return.
- Rewatch UFC 323: Pay attention to how Yan neutralized the takedowns. It provides the blueprint for how other contenders like Song Yadong or Payton Talbott might approach a fight with Dvalishvili.
The "Machine" might have been slowed down in December, but history shows that Merab Dvalishvili usually comes back with twice the energy. Whether he gets the belt back in 2026 or not, his 2025 run will be remembered as one of the gutsiest years in the history of the sport.