Photo via Yahoo Sports

Sean O’Malley Rooting for Petr Yan to Beat Merab Dvalishvili

UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan faces off against Merab Dvalishvili in a trilogy bout at UFC 333 this Saturday, with the title on the line at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The matchup reignites a rivalry after Yan secured a dominant victory over Dvalishvili in their 2025 rematch, following Dvalishvili’s shutout win in their first fight the prior year.

Former UFC bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley, who holds a split-decision win over Yan from 2022, publicly backed Yan to win, emphasizing the significance of Yan’s victory for his own path back to a title shot. O’Malley, who has lost twice to Dvalishvili, expressed excitement for a potential rematch against Yan, calling it a fight that could define the bantamweight division.

With Yan favored at -165 and Dvalishvili listed as a +140 underdog, the bout promises to be a high-stakes clash between two of the division’s most formidable fighters, each seeking to claim the championship once again.

Up nextMMA· 1h ago

Pic: Petr Yan scores custom shorts ahead of highly anticipated UFC 333 trilogy