Insane: Petr Yan blows away UFC pros with brilliant performance in Merab Dvalishvi

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Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili saved the best fight of their rivalry for last.

In a thrilling five-round battle at UFC 333 on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, Yan successfully defended his bantamweight championship with a unanimous decision over Dvalishvili, earning identical 48-47 scores from all three judges. The Russian survived a relentless start from his longtime rival before turning the tide in the championship rounds, using sharp counterstriking, punishing body shots and stout takedown defense to secure the victory.

The result served as a fitting conclusion to a trilogy that began in March 2023, when Dvalishvili dominated Yan over five rounds. Nearly three years later, Yan returned the favor at UFC 323, ending Dvalishvili's remarkable 14-fight win streak and reclaiming the bantamweight crown. Saturday's rubber match was considerably closer, with both men having their moments before Yan pulled away late to take a definitive 2-1 lead in what ultimately became an all-time series.

The MMA world certainly had plenty to say about it. Fighters across the sport flooded social media with praise for the back-and-forth battle, with many calling Yan vs. Dvalishvili one of the greatest trilogies in UFC history. Not everyone agreed with the outcome, however, as some questioned whether Yan had done enough to earn the judges' nod in a razor-close contest.

Check out how the pros reacted to Yan's victory over Dvalishvili at UFC 333 below.

Catch complete UFC 333 results and highlights from Uncrowned's fight night event hub.