Merab Dvalishvili Changes Camp for Yan

Merab Dvalishvili says he has changed the way he is preparing as a potential third fight with Petr Yan remains under discussion. The former bantamweight champion described his current work as a smarter training camp rather than simply a harder one, and he has brought a new wrestling coach into his preparation. Dvalishvili’s comments offer a specific look at how he is approaching a possible return against the man who beat him by unanimous decision at UFC 323 last December.

The key point is not that a trilogy bout has been officially announced. The available material says the timing of another Dvalishvili-Yan meeting is unclear, while Yan has been absent following back surgery. Dvalishvili, however, has indicated that he is already working as though the rematch is coming. That distinction matters: his camp changes are a confirmed part of his preparation, but the fight itself is still presented only as a potential next matchup. Dvalishvili said during a livestream that the new structure feels like a real training camp and that the work is more considered than it was before his last fight with Yan.

Merab Dvalishvili adds a wrestling coach

Dvalishvili identified coach Jesse as the new addition to his team. He said the coach has been helping him through private wrestling sessions at a gym in Las Vegas, describing one such workout as his second training session of the day. The change comes after Dvalishvili publicly sought coaches earlier this year by posting his mobile number and asking them to contact him. His words focused on the quality and direction of preparation. “Last time I fought Petr I was training hard, now I’m training smart,” Dvalishvili said. In a separate version of the comments, he said he believed the altered approach would produce a different result. Those statements do not confirm a bout agreement, but they show that Dvalishvili is tailoring his work toward the Yan matchup rather than waiting for an official date before beginning camp.

The wrestling emphasis has clear context in the reported numbers from the December rematch. Dvalishvili attempted 29 takedowns against Yan and landed two, according to the supplied account. That result does not by itself predict what would happen in another fight, but it helps explain why hiring a new wrestling coach is a meaningful development rather than a routine camp update. Dvalishvili has said he changed his approach for a potential trilogy with Yan and is training smarter rather than harder. The new wrestling coach is part of that revised preparation.

The potential trilogy remains unbooked

A third Dvalishvili-Yan fight would settle a series described in the supplied material as tied at one win apiece. Yan defeated Dvalishvili by unanimous decision at UFC 323, ending Dvalishvili’s title reign. The reports also say Yan underwent back surgery after that contest, which has kept him out of the Octagon since then. No date, venue or official UFC announcement for a trilogy is included in the verified material. While waiting, Dvalishvili has sought activity outside the UFC. He wrestled twice under the RAF banner and booked a lightweight crossover title fight with Henry Cejudo for RAF 12, according to the supplied report. Those appearances are separate from the possible Yan rematch, but they underline that Dvalishvili has not described himself as inactive while the UFC situation remains unresolved. His latest comments put the emphasis back on camp: he is preparing, he has added specialist wrestling work, and he is framing the change as a smarter version of his previous approach.

• Dvalishvili says his new camp philosophy is to train smart rather than simply train hard.
• Dvalishvili says coach Jesse is providing private wrestling training in Las Vegas.

Merab Dvalishvili has supplied the most tangible update available on his side of a possible Yan trilogy: a revised camp approach and an added wrestling coach. The reported takedown figures from their last meeting give that decision relevant context, while the lack of a confirmed date keeps the larger matchup in the potential category. For now, Dvalishvili’s message is about preparation rather than an announced fight.

Sources: Sherdog; Bloody Elbow; LowKick MMA