Merab Dvalishvili Reveals Injury Struggles After UFC 323 Loss To Petr Yan
In his UFC 323 match against Petr Yan, Merab Dvalishvili pointed out that he was fighting with a broken leg, and subsequently lost decisively in Dec. 2025. Dvalishvili also admitted that he was not fully healthy when he accepted the fight, though he did not disclose the specific injury he carried into the matchup.
According to Dvalishvili, he made it clear to the UFC about his availability to compete and intended to stay active throughout the year. He wished to appear four times in 2025 and was not afraid to fight against any deserving opponent. He thinks that accepting challenging opportunities has always been at the forefront of his thinking and has been a significant factor in assisting him to achieve success.
Yan Secures Victory
The encounter between Dvalishvili and Petr Yan ended with the Russian fighter delivering one of the most captivating performances of his career. Yan controlled the fight and secured a decisive victory, handing Dvalishvili a significant setback in the bantamweight division.
Although Yan subsequently had a back operation in January, the timing of his recovery seemingly coincided with that of Dvalishvili himself, postponing any further plans for a fight between the two men.
Broken Nose Makes One More Barrier
Dvalishvili also confirmed that he broke his nose in early April 2026 in training. The trauma was a result of a sparring session where one of his teammates landed a timed knee straight on his face. He termed the incident a training accident.
Medical exams showed that his nose was broken in two places. He also noticed that the damage affected breathing, leaving one side of his nose blocked. This latest injury made a standing issue worse, as he had originally broken the same nose years ago during the early stages of his UFC career. He could have had surgery, but he chose to postpone it so he could get back to competing.
Waiting For UFC’s Next Call
Despite the setback, Dvalishvili remains eager to compete again and is targeting a return later this summer. He explained that he is hopeful for an opportunity shortly after June, possibly in July, but emphasized that he is willing to fight whenever the UFC needs him.
He also pointed to Yan’s recent statements about being ready in June, suggesting that if Yan is healthy enough for that timeline, then he would likely also be available in the months that follow.
Real American Freestyle Appearance Set For Philadelphia
While waiting for his next UFC booking, Merab plans to stay active through wrestling competition. He is scheduled to face former UFC two-division champ Henry Cejudo at Real American Freestyle 08 in Philadelphia on April 18. He enjoys staying busy and sees wrestling events as a valuable extension of my training. He talked about the upcoming match as an opportunity to compete, have fun, and maintain sharpness before shifting his attention back toward a future title fight.
Future Plans
Although recent months have brought injuries and a difficult loss, Dvalishvili appears determined to remain active and quickly work his way back into contention. With a wrestling match and a UFC return targeted for the summer, the Georgian standout has already turned his attention to the next chapter of his career.
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