Merab Dvalishvili says he is still waiting on Petr Yan as he expects their next meeting to be a trilogy fight under the UFC banner.
Dvalishvili, who fought at RAF 9 on Saturday at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas, says he was told by UFC executive Hunter Campbell that Yan would be his next opponent but has yet to receive a date. "He told me I was fighting next Petr Yan. He told me, 'Take your time. When you heal up, call me.' Of course, I called him a couple weeks later. He was just waiting for Petr Yan. Petr did some small surgery and then he said he was ready for June at White House, but I guess he's still taking his time. I saw he did his teeth. He did something with his teeth. Now I see he's on vacation. I haven't heard anything from UFC. If our fight is in July or August, I must know. It's not happening. Even in September, I must know. But I'm hoping he will come back soon."
Dvalishvili says the UFC has ruled out an interim title in his division. "UFC told me there are no interim belts in this weight class," he said.
With a bantamweight contender bout between Sean O'Malley and Aiemann Zahabi set for UFC Freedom 250 on June 14 in Arlington, Texas, Dvalishvili maintains his focus is locked on Yan. "Nothing else. It doesn't matter if Sean wins or Zahabi wins. I'm fighting Yan. I think Yan is the best guy. Right now, he beat me – and I want to fight the best guy. ... Now, it's been many months and he's taking his time. So I think everybody wants to see this trilogy fight. It's going to be good."
