Dvalishvili will arrive in Abu Dhabi only six days before UFC 333
The former bantamweight champion says he does not need extra time to adjust before his trilogy fight with Petr Yan.
Merab Dvalishvili is in no rush to get to Abu Dhabi. The Georgian, who meets Petr Yan for the bantamweight title in the UFC 333 co-main event, plans to fly in six days before the fight, which puts his arrival on Sunday 18 October, MMA Sucka reported from his interview with Vato Gvinjilia.
"I'm not arriving that early for acclimatization," Dvalishvili said, explaining that the time change and climate do not affect him much.
He added that fight week is uncomfortable anyway. With the weight cut, hunger and dieting, he says he sleeps badly in the final days, so he would rather keep media duties and the cut close to the event than spend extra days waiting in the city.
It is a different approach from fighters who settle in early on Yas Island. Dvalishvili's plan is to stay in his training camp and finish preparation there before travelling, according to the report.
The trilogy is tied at one win each. Dvalishvili won their first fight in March 2023, and Yan won the rematch, and the title, at UFC 323 in December 2025. They meet at Etihad Arena on Saturday 24 October, under Alexander Volkanovski against Movsar Evloev for the featherweight title.
UFC 333: Volkanovski vs. EvloevSat 24 Oct · Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi See ticketsSource: MMA Sucka, Wikipedia (UFC 333)
