Prioritizing the Win Over a Knockout
Merab Dvalishvili is gearing up to defend his UFC bantamweight crown against Petr Yan at UFC 323 in Las Vegas on December 6. While the Georgian fighter acknowledges that a stoppage would be impressive, he stresses that his main focus is simply winning the fight. “A finish would be good,” Dvalishvili remarked, “but no one has ever finished Petr Yan… My goal is to stay healthy and come out with the win.”
Facing a Tough Opponent
Yan has never been stopped in his professional MMA career, with all of his defeats coming via decision. This makes the challenge of securing a finish especially daunting. Despite the difficulty, Dvalishvili sees the opportunity as a chance to make a significant statement against one of the sport’s toughest competitors.
Chasing Record-Breaking Achievements
Beyond just defending his title, Dvalishvili has the opportunity to become the first UFC fighter to defend a championship four times within a single year. While a finish would add extra prestige, his primary goal remains victory and maintaining his health, solidifying his legacy in the sport.
