Merab Dvalishvili vs. Petr Yan 2.0 is no longer just a rumor! UFC CEO Dana White took to social media with his “What’s up everyone” announcement, confirming one of 2025’s biggest matchups. The reigning bantamweight king is gearing up for his fourth title defense of the year, set to headline UFC 323 at the T-Mobile Arena before the calendar flips. This fight could cement ‘the Machine’s place among the “greatest bantamweights,” as he looks to notch four title defenses in a single year while extending his win streak to 15—moving him ever closer to Anderson Silva.

For former champion Petr Yan, the upcoming December’s pay-per-view is a chance for redemption. In 2023, Merab Dvalishvili dominated the Russian star with relentless wrestling pressure and a high-tempo, aggressive style, outworking the striking specialist ‘No Mercy’. Now, with the rematch officially set,  Yan has revealed some eye-popping stats from their first encounter.

Petr Yan reveals right-hand injury in first fight against Merab Dvalishvili ahead of UFC 323

During an Instagram live, Dana White took center stage with a major announcement that sent shockwaves through the MMA world. Shortly after, Ariel Helwani went live on YouTube with Petr Yan for a pre-UFC 323 title bout interview. Looking back at his first fight with Merab Dvalishvili, ‘No Mercy’ admitted he was only “50” percent at UFC Fight Night 221. When Helwani pressed about the injury, asking, “Was it your knee that was bothering you?”

Yan revealed he had actually injured his right hand prior to the fight: “If you just look at the stats of our previous fight, you can see that I only used my right hand maybe three or four times. I couldn’t punch with my right hand, and I couldn’t use it to defend against the wrestling. So, it’s just facts. If you compare it to my different fight, the hand I use the most.” (Via translator)

In his bout against Merab Dvalishvili, Petr Yan showcased remarkable precision, landing 75 of his 143 significant strikes for a 52% accuracy rate. He was particularly effective with body and leg strikes, connecting on nearly every attempt, while Dvalishvili’s offense largely focused on head and body shots, most of which came from distance. Yan’s efficiency and targeted striking clearly set the tone throughout the fight. Coming from a striking background, ‘No Mercy’. emphasized the importance of strong hands.

A similar scenario played out at UFC 313, when “40%” Alex Pereira lost his title to Magomed Ankalaev. Joe Rogan later revealed Pereira had fought with a “broken hand,” which many critics dismissed as an excuse. Yet Pereira returned at UFC 321, landing a clean knockout that put Ankalaev to sleep and reclaimed his title.

On the same card, Merab Dvalishvili successfully defended his belt against Cory Sandhagen via decision, making history as the Georgian powerhouse became the first fighter to reach 100 takedowns. Yan’s latest revelation has reignited debate in the MMA community. However, that night, Petr Yan was not the only one who fought with a broken hand.

Was Merab Dvalishvili injured in his first outing against Petr Yan?

“Two weeks before my fight I injured my hand,” Merab Dvalishvili admitted in 2023. This was his official statement after defeating Russian powerhouse Petr Yan in a grueling five-round battle. Yet few realized that Dvalishvili was actually fighting through an injury. “The Machine” controlled the center of the octagon with relentless forward pressure and multiple takedown attempts, sweeping all three judges’ scorecards 50-45.

What fans didn’t see was the pain Dvalishvili endured that night from an injury sustained during training. He explained: “I was only training with one arm. During the first minutes of my fight, I could feel the pain in my hand, but I was ignoring the pain so I could fight. During the fight, I re-injured my hand and I still feel the pain in my hand today.” That bout marked the first time Dvalishvili entered the cage with a pre-existing hand injury.

Throughout his career, the Georgian star has often fought through adversity, including broken limbs and cuts, notably at UFC 306 and UFC 311. Now, as the rematch against Petr Yan looms, fans hope the Georgian powerhouse can remain injury-free. The question remains: will ‘The Machine’ be able to keep injuries at bay this time? Stay tuned.