Petr Yan jokes Yas Island is “Yan Island” ahead of UFC 333 title defence
The bantamweight champion says Dvalishvili's pressure is a test he welcomes, on the island where he won both his UFC belts.
Petr Yan is in a relaxed mood a week before his trilogy fight with Merab Dvalishvili. MMA Sucka reported on 17 October that the bantamweight champion joked Yas Island should be renamed “Yan Island”, a nod to how well Abu Dhabi has treated him.
The record backs the joke up. Yan won the vacant undisputed title against José Aldo at UFC 251 in 2020 and the interim belt against Cory Sandhagen at UFC 267 in 2021, both on Yas Island. On Saturday 24 October he defends the title in the UFC 333 co-main event at Etihad Arena.
Asked by UFC on Paramount+ about Dvalishvili's relentless pace, Yan said he cannot be annoyed by it because it is part of his opponent's game plan. “Diamonds are made under pressure,” he added, as quoted by Sherdog on 14 October. He compared the fight to swimming far from the shore, something he says not everyone is ready to do.
The two have already shared ten rounds in the Octagon. Dvalishvili won the first meeting on points in 2023, setting a UFC record for takedown attempts, and Yan reversed the result by unanimous decision at UFC 323 in December 2025 to take back the title.
Yan (20-5) told MMA Sucka he sees the third fight as a chance to show how much he has improved, and said it is “cool” that his whole camp is pulling in the same direction. Dvalishvili (21-5) has promised new weapons of his own, so the answer arrives late on Saturday night in Abu Dhabi.
UFC 333: Volkanovski vs EvloevSat 24 Oct · Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi See tickets
