Dvalishvili Aims for Historic Fourth Title Defense in 2025

LAS VEGAS: Merab Dvalishvili, the current UFC bantamweight champion, is preparing to put his title on the line against former titleholder Petr Yan. The highly anticipated matchup will headline UFC 309, slated for December at the T-Mobile Arena, as confirmed on Monday by UFC CEO Dana White.

Dvalishvili’s upcoming fight represents his fourth attempted title defense in 2025, a milestone that could establish a new benchmark in UFC history. Should he succeed, the Georgian fighter will be the first in UFC history to defend a championship on four separate occasions within a single calendar year.

White expressed admiration for Dvalishvili’s ambition to set a new record, stating, “Merab deserves credit for pursuing this record; I’m excited to see it.”

The 34-year-old champion secured the bantamweight title earlier this year with a victory over Sean O’Malley and has since solidified his position at the top of the division.

Dvalishvili, celebrated for his relentless style and exceptional grappling skills, enters the bout riding an impressive 11-fight winning streak, ranking among the longest active sequences in the UFC.

Meanwhile, Petr Yan is determined to regain the title, having demonstrated his comeback with a dominant win against Song Yadong earlier this year.

The Russian striker, a former champion, has experienced a mixed run since relinquishing his belt in 2021 but remains a substantial threat, given his refined striking techniques and championship experience.

This contest will be a rematch of their intense 2023 fight, where Dvalishvili emerged victorious by unanimous decision following a hard-fought five-round battle.

As both fighters seek to cement their legacies, their showdown at UFC 309 is poised to be one of the most eagerly awaited events of the year’s end and could well dictate the bantamweight division’s hierarchy as they head into 2026.