Petr Yan lashes back at Merab Dvalishvili, says personal comments are a call for attention
No.2-ranked bantamweight contender Petr Yan has responded to personal comments made by his upcoming opponent, Merab Dvalishvili.
During the pre-fight press conference, Petr Yan addressed comments made by his opponent, Dvalishvili, regarding the historical conflict between Russia and Georgia. 'The Machine' previously asserted that their upcoming fight is much more significant than a title fight. But the Russian native emphasized that it should not be trivialized by irrelevant personal remarks.
'No Mercy' stated:
"I think he doesn't have any other way to bring attention to himself, you know? He cannot do it with his fights. [Merab] is just trying to take a little attention with something else, one is interested in him."
Check out the entire conversation here:
This weekend's UFC Fight Night 221 (UFC on ESPN+ 79) will feature the highly anticipated bout between Petr Yan (#2) and Merab Dvalishvili (#3). With both fighters known for their impressive skill sets and aggressive fighting styles, this matchup is sure to be a thrilling one.
Merab Dvalishvili discusses the gravity of his involvement in the Petr Yan fight
Petr Yan’s upcoming opponent, Merab Dvalishvili, considers their impending fight to be more than just a title bout. The fighter sees it as a symbolic battle between Russia and Georgia, and he feels a tremendous sense of responsibility to represent his nation in the octagon.
Dvalishvili is aware that his performances in the fight will be watched closely by his fellow Georgians. He believes that he is fighting not just for himself, but for his entire country. This adds extra pressure and motivation for Dvalishvili to train harder and perform better in the upcoming match.
The No.3-ranked UFC bantamweight contender recently spoke with The Schmo about his impending fight against Petr Yan and the tremendous responsibility he feels to represent his native Georgia. He stated:
"I just want to win this fight, that's it. That will be better than win title, you know, because despite it not only fight, this is personl fight for me. My country supporting me, you know?"
The 32-year-old mixed martial artist further added:
"It's not secret that, Russian, they are not treating Georgia and Ukraine good. And this is like Russia vs. Georgia and this is sport but this is big-big modern fight for me."
Check out the entire interview below: