Injured! Merab Dvalishvili reveals UFC doctors ‘told me I could pull out’ leading into Petr Yan loss
Merab Dvalishvili was injured when Petr Yan beat him in dominant fashion during their UFC 323 fight from December 2025. That’s according to Dvalishvili himself, who did his best to avoid spilling any specifics … but did eventually admit he fought hurt during an interview with Shakiel Mahjouri. “I told UFC if they need me, […]
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 06: (L-R) Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia and Petr Yan of Russia face off in the UFC bantamweight championship fight during the UFC 323 event at T-Mobile Arena on December 06, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) Merab Dvalishvili was injured when Petr Yan beat him in dominant fashion during their UFC 323 fight from December 2025. That’s according to Dvalishvili himself, who did his best to avoid spilling any specifics … but did eventually admit he fought hurt during an interview with Shakiel Mahjouri.
“I told UFC if they need me, I was there,” Dvalishvili said of the fight. “And I was willing to fight four times in the year, and I was gonna take a fight against the the best, most deserving guy. I knew that it was a risk, but I like to take challenges.
I like to take a risk. That’s who I am. That’s what got me here.
” “During the camp there were things, you know,” he continued. “Like some UFC doctors told me that I can pull out, but that’s not who I am. You know?