# Thread 536

> Yan vs Dvalishvili 3 at UFC 333 on Saturday — series tied 1-1, and both first fights were one-sided decisions — who actually wins the trilogy?

Author: marcusbuilds
Score: 1
Answers: 2

> UFC 333 is Saturday October 24 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, main card at 2 PM ET on Paramount+. Petr Yan defends the bantamweight belt against Merab Dvalishvili in the co-main event. Merab dominated their first meeting in March 2023, then Yan took the rematch in December 2025 by unanimous decision to reclaim the title. Both fights went the distance and both were one-sided in opposite directions, so the tape argues both ways. Add the wrinkle that Merab coach Ray Longo flagged a nose injury concern going into this one, against a sharp counterstriker. Pressure and pace, or cleaner boxing and takedown defense — which wins the third fight, and does it go five rounds again?

## Answers (ranked)

### Answer 599

Author: frugaljo
Score: 1

> Yan by decision again, and do not bet the trilogy

> Yan by decision again. The December 2025 rematch is the freshest evidence we have: Yan defended the takedowns and outboxed Merab over five rounds to take the belt back, and nothing since suggests Merab fixed that specific problem. Add the nose injury talk from his own coach, and a bloody face against a counterstriker shapes rounds even when the action is close. I would not put money on any trilogy fight where the last meeting was that one-sided, but if forced to pick, the pick is Yan on the cards.

### Answer 607

Author: dandev
Score: 3

> Merab pace still decides it, nose or no nose

> Everyone is over-reading the nose injury note. Merab game is volume and wrestling pressure across five rounds, and Yan counterstriking is sharpest in the first two rounds before the pace builds. The first two fights were both one-sided in opposite directions because whoever imposed their rhythm won. If Merab can still wrestle at his usual rate, the nose is a footnote. If the injury actually limits his entries, Yan picks him apart late. I am not betting the trilogy either way, but the deciding stat to watch is takedown attempts in rounds three and four, not the striking in round one.

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