Watch: Petr Yan viciously shoves Merab Dvalishvili during UFC Las Vegas faceoff
The tension between Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili reached a boiling point during the UFC Las Vegas weigh-ins, in what was a clear sign of the intensity that will be on display during their upcoming bantamweight clash.
With Saturday's card's main event card fast approaching, Yan and Dvalishvili's animosity towards each other was evident, with their previous history only adding fuel to the fire. The two fighters have been at odds for years, with Yan's beef extending to Dvalishvili's training partner and current bantamweight champion, Aljamain Sterling.
As they faced off for their final staredown before the fight, the tension was palpable, and Petr Yan wasted no time in making his feelings clear. In a move that surprised many, Yan shoved Dvalishvili, causing a commotion between the two camps.
Check out the intense face-off below:
Petr Yan, the former bantamweight champion, is looking to bounce back from two consecutive split decision losses. In April 2022, he fell to Aljamain Sterling at UFC 274 and later in October, he was defeated by Sean O'Malley at UFC 280, marking the first time he has gone winless in a year since he began his professional career.
However, prior to his recent setbacks, 'No Mercy' had captured the interim 135-pound title with a hard-fought decision win over Cory Sandhagen at UFC 267 in October 2021.
Petr Yan responds to Merab Dvalishvili's personal remarks
Petr Yan, the No.2 ranked bantamweight contender, has fired back at Merab Dvalishvili's recent comments regarding the upcoming fight between the two fighters.
At a pre-fight press conference, Yan took issue with Dvalishvili's comments about the historic conflict between Russia and Georgia, which the Georgian fighter had previously claimed made their upcoming fight more significant than a title fight. Yan argued that while the fight may be important, it should not be reduced to personal comments that have nothing to do with their actual matchup.
The former bantamweight champion stated:
"I think he doesn't have any other way to bring attention to himself, you know? He cannot do it with his fights. [Dvalishvili] is just trying to take a little attention with something else, one is interested in him."
Check out the entire comment here:
The upcoming UFC Fight Night 221 (UFC on ESPN+ 79) event is set to feature a much-anticipated fight between top-ranked bantamweights Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili. Both fighters are known for their impressive fighting abilities and aggressive styles, making this a keenly awaited matchup for fans of mixed martial arts.