Petr Yan completes trilogy with gritty win over Merab Dvalishvili to defend title

Petr Yan successfully defended his UFC men's bantamweight title against Merab Dvalishvili, winning their trilogy fight by unanimous decision at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi. This victory marked a significant comeback for Yan, who had previously faced challenges in their earlier encounters.

The fight began with Yan struggling, as he allowed five takedowns in the first two rounds while focusing on defense. However, he shifted his strategy in the later rounds, becoming more aggressive and landing effective strikes. Yan managed to thwart all of Dvalishvili's takedown attempts in the final three rounds, showcasing his boxing skills and gaining the support of the crowd, which contributed to his victory with three judges scoring the bout 48-47 in his favor.