Jun 7, 2025; Newark, New Jersey, UNITED STATES; Merab Dvalishvili (red gloves) reacts after defeating Sean O’Malley (not pictured) in a bantamweight title fight during UFC 316 at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

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Merab Dvalishvili Ranks Petr Yan Above Umar Nurmagomedov Due To This Reason

Merab Dvalishvili beleives Petr Yan has superiority over Umar Nurmagomedov due to this one reason !

The bantamweight division has always been a hotbed of talent and endless debates. Fans love to argue about who’s truly the best fighter in the 135 pound weight class. Rankings shift constantly, and every fight can completely change how we view these athletes. The competition is fierce, and everyone has an opinion about who deserves what spot.

Recently, current UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili threw his hat into the ring of this ongoing discussion. He made some pretty bold statements about two of the division’s most talked about fighters. Dvalishvili shared his thoughts on Petr Yan and Umar Nurmagomedov, and his take might surprise some people. He has fought both men and knows what it takes to succeed at the highest level. And when a champion speaks about his division, people tend to listen.

Merab Dvalishvili Reveals The Reason For Backing Petr Yan

Dvalishvili believes that Petr Yan is simply a better overall fighter than Umar Nurmagomedov. His reasoning comes down to one main factor that many fans overlook. Dvalishvili focuses on something much more fundamental to fighting success. He points to Yan’s consistent activity and willingness to face top competition regularly. The Russian fighter has never shied away from tough matchups throughout his career.

“Petr Yan is better than Umar because Petr has already had many fights with top fighters. He has more experience. He’s constantly active, constantly fighting. Umar… we’ve only seen him fight against me and Cory. He needs to fight the top guys in the division. Sure, Umar is a good fighter, but he needs to stay busy all the time. Where is he now? Why isn’t he fighting?” said Dvalishvili via Kolos_MMA YT.

Merab Dvalishvili says Petr Yan is overall a better fighter than Umar Nurmagomedov because he’s active and constantly fighting top guys in the division 💥

"Petr Yan is better than Umar because Petr has already had many fights with top fighters. He has more experience. He’s… pic.twitter.com/i3NAUXwJsV
— MMA Pros Pick (@MMA_PROS_PICK_) July 13, 2025

On the flip side, Dvalishvili sees some gaps in Umar Nurmagomedov’s current standing. He acknowledges that Nurmagomedov is incredibly talented. The Dagestani fighter has serious skills and comes from perhaps the best fighting camp in the world. But talent alone doesn’t tell the whole story in MMA. Dvalishvili pointed out that Nurmagomedov’s career has been less active compared to Yan’s. He simply hasn’t fought as frequently or against as many top ranked opponents. According to Dvalishvili, he and Sandhagen are basically the only real top contenders that Nurmagomedov has faced.

The champion’s message seems pretty clear about what Nurmagomedov needs to do next. He needs to stay busy and keep accepting fights against elite competition. Fighting once or twice a year against lower ranked opponents won’t cut it at this level. He has to prove himself when the lights are brightest and the stakes are highest!

(Image Credit: Vincent Carchietta – Imagn Images)

Merab Dvalishvili

Petr Yan

Umar Nurmagomedov

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!