Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili could return sooner than expected for a trilogy against Petr Yan.

Merab Dvalishvili and UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan seem on a collision course for a bantamweight trilogy later this year. Yan defeated Dvalishvili by unanimous decision to reclaim the bantamweight throne last year at UFC 323.

Despite Sean O’Malley and Umar Nurmagomedov earning recent impressive wins, Yan vs. Dvalishvili 3 is rumored to be the matchmakers’ plan for the next bantamweight title fight. But Dvalishvili’s return timeline hit a delay earlier this year when he suffered another fractured nose.

Yan vs. Dvalishvili 3 could be announced imminently, depending on the UFC’s scheduling for the rest of 2026. According to Dvalishvili, he’s ready sooner than expected, and it’s the current bantamweight titleholder who is delaying negotiations.

Merab Dvalishvili sends a message to Petr Yan as UFC trilogy talks apparently stall

In a recent post on Threads, Dvalishvili sent a message to his two-time title foe.

“Petr it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you! Are you alive?” Dvalishvili posted.

“I’ve been waiting since Springtime. Let me know when you’re coming back, I kinda miss you.”

As of this writing, Yan hasn’t responded to Dvalishvili’s social media message.

Before UFC 323, Dvalishvili was regarded as one of the most unstoppable forces in MMA, earning recent wins over O’Malley, Cory Sandhagen, and Henry Cejudo. Dvalishvili dominated Yan in their first fight at a UFC Fight Night event in 2023.

Recent rumors point to Yan vs. Dvalishvili 3 being added to the UFC’s scheduled return to Abu Dhabi in October at UFC 333. UFC 332 is another possibility, ahead of the promotion’s return to Salt Lake City, Utah.

In either case, Yan vs. Dvalishvili 3 is one of the most intriguing potential fights the UFC matchmakers could book, and we could be on the verge of an announcement.

What is your prediction for Petr Yan vs. Merab Dvalishvili 3? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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