Coach John Wooden has mentioned a serious motive that would have affected Merab Dvalishvili’s efficiency at UFC 323.
Final yr, after efficiently defending his bantamweight championship thrice, ‘The Machine’ wished to etch his title in historical past books by being the primary UFC champ to register 4 profitable title defenses in a single calendar yr.
Nevertheless, at UFC 323, for the fourth protection, he met Petr Yan in a rematch and misplaced by unanimous determination. Though Dvalishvili fought in his standard fashion, Yan was merely the higher man on struggle night time. ‘No Mercy’ landed the higher pictures, had nice takedown protection, scored his personal takedowns, and didn’t give up to Dvalishvili’s relentless stress and elite cardio.
It’s also potential that 4 weight cuts in a single yr and a busy struggle schedule impacted the Georgian’s efficiency, and subsequently he misplaced.
Merab Dvalishvili’s coach, John Wooden, reveals what went unsuitable at UFC 323
In a current interview with Residence of Combat, coach John Wooden revealed that, as a part of the devised sport plan, Merab Dvalishvili tried too onerous to safe finishes in his title defenses, and that’s what they are going to repair within the third struggle with Yan. He mentioned:
“Merab is the kind of man the place, in case you inform him to do one thing, he’ll do it. I believe we centered slightly an excessive amount of on chasing finishes, breaking guys and on the lookout for knockouts. When actually, Merab simply must go be Merab. That’s on me to verify he sticks to what he does greatest.”
Take a look at coach John Wooden’s feedback about Merab Dvalishvili beneath:
Yan vs. Dvalishvili 3 is anticipated to happen after July 2026, as the Russian fighter has undergone again surgical procedure and is at the moment recovering.
‘The Machine,’ however, is able to enter the octagon and reclaim his misplaced glory and is open to combating even at the Meta Apex. In a current video, he mentioned:
“UFC tells me this. I’m subsequent for the title. They noticed my onerous work. I beat Petr in 2023. He beat me in 2025. However they advised me this. I’ll struggle, it’s not going to be the White Home. However hear, guys, I don’t care. White Home, Black Home, yellow home, UFC Apex, or my yard. That is our struggle.”
Take a look at Merab Dvalishvili’s feedback beneath:
