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Healthy, motivated Merab issues first statement following Petr Yan title loss at UFC 333

Jesse Holland
is among the longest-tenured media professionals in the combat sports news space, covering MMA, professional wrestling and boxing on a full-time basis since early 2004.

Merab Dvalishvili was unsuccessful in his quest to recapture the bantamweight crown,

falling to Petr Yan in their championship trilogy in the UFC 333 co-main event
last weekend in Abu Dhabi. That marked his second-straight loss to “No Mercy” and effectively eliminates the Georgian from the 135-pound title chase.

Don’t worry, “The Machine” is not broken.

“Good day everyone! First and foremost, I want to thank God for he has truly blessed me and I am grateful!” Dvalishvili wrote on social media. “Next, I want to thank my cornermen for their help and dedication. I am grateful for my Las Vegas teammates and training partners who always showed up and pushed me to great limits. Also big thanks to my New York team and all my New York-Long Island Boys !! Thank you to the UFC for always giving me these opportunities! Last but certainly not least — my family, friends and fans — your support and love means the world to me! I cannot wait to be back in that cage doing what I love to do ! I am healthy and motivated and will be back soon! This Machine never breaks! See you all soon.”

Dvalishvili (21-6) turns 36 in January.

His losses to Yan snapped a 14-fight win streak.

Dvalishvili remains ranked at No. 1 at 135 pounds and has already defeated most of the Top 10 outside of Mario Bautista and Song Yadong. That said, matchmakers may not want to spoil fresh contenders like Bautista and Song, depending the proposed rematch between Yan and Sean O’Malley.

Stay tuned.

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