Mar 11, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Petr Yan (red gloves) fights Merab Dvalshvili (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Virgin Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

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Petr Yan Gets the Win, And A Message From Champion Merab Dvalishvili

After Petr Yan defeated Marcus McGhee at the co-main event of UFC Abu Dhabi, Merab Dvalishvili sent a message to him!

Mar 11, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Petr Yan (red gloves) fights Merab Dvalshvili (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Virgin Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Former UFC champions don’t fade quietly into retirement. They stick around, fight hard, and wait for their chance to reclaim what they lost. Petr Yan embodies this spirit perfectly, refusing to let his dreams die after losing the title in 2021. The Russian striker has been climbing back up the mountain ever since, picking off contenders one by one with his signature boxing skills and granite chin.

Saturday night at UFC Abu Dhabi proved that Yan still has plenty left in the tank. His fight against Marcus McGhee was a war. The American came to fight and gave Yan everything he could handle for three hard rounds. But when the dust settled, Yan walked away with another victory and a clear message for the champion. His post fight callout wasn’t subtle or diplomatic. He wants what he believes belongs to him, and he’s not afraid to demand it on the biggest stage possible.

Petr Yan’s Win Sets Up Title Shot Demand

Petr Yan made Marcus McGhee look ordinary at UFC Abu Dhabi, but it wasn’t as easy as the final scorecards suggested. The judges all scored the fight 29-28 with Yan securing the victory, but McGhee gave him trouble early and never stopped trying to steal rounds.

The first round saw both men trading heavy shots with McGhee actually catching Yan off balance at one point. The second round belonged to Yan as he started finding his rhythm and timing. Yan unloaded a massive shot that rattled his opponent and showed why he’s considered one of the best boxers in the division. By the third round, Yan had taken complete control of the fight. Yan was punishing him with fast, rapid fire combinations that really showed off his boxing acumen and left no doubt about who was winning. Yan’s post fight interview left no room for interpretation about what he wants next.

“Now Merab [Dvalishvili] will fight Cory Sandhagen. Everybody knows I fought Cory Sandhagen, I beat him and now I want to fight who wins the title fight [next].”

Yan declared with confidence and he knows he has earned his shot. The callout wasn’t desperate or emotional. It was a simple statement of fact from a former champion who believes he’s done enough to get back to the top!

Merab Dvalishvili Accepts The Challenge For Future Showdown

Merab Dvalishvili didn’t waste time responding to Yan’s callout, and his answer was exactly what fight fans wanted to hear. His callout of Dvalishvili didn’t go unnoticed, and it might just have landed him another shot at the UFC bantamweight title. The Georgian champion has been one of the most active titleholders in recent memory, and he’s not about to slow down now.

But, Merab Dvalishvili has business to handle first before he can give Yan the rematch he’s demanding. He will attempt to defend his bantamweight title for the third time when he meets #4 ranked contender Cory Sandhagen at UFC 320, taking place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on October 4th. This will be his third defense of 2025, proving that he meant it when he promised to be an active champion.

“Congratulations, Petr. Good fight. I have to win first [against Cory Sandhagen], Then I’ll see you later.”

Merab Dvalishvili accepts Petr Yan's callout, but first, he has to get through the very dangerous Cory Sandhagen 💥

"Congratulations, Petr. Good fight. I have to win first,
Then I’ll see you later."

via: @MerabDvalishvil / #UFCAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/g2LlsPUEbt
— MMA Pros Pick (@MMA_PROS_PICK_) July 26, 2025

Sandhagen represents a legitimate threat with his striking skills and unorthodox style, giving Merab Dvalishvili a real test before potentially facing Yan again. Meanwhile, Yan can stay active and potentially fight another contender while waiting for his title shot. The bantamweight division benefits from having clear direction and meaningful fights lined up, something that hasn’t always been the case in recent years.

(Image Credit: Ron Chenoy – Imagn Images)

Marcus McGhee

Merab Dvalishvili

Petr Yan

UFC Abu Dhabi

Zaid Quraishi

mma

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!