Following weeks of a heated build-up, Petr Yan took on Merab Dvalishvili in the headlining bout of UFC Vegas 71 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
UFC Vegas 71: Petr Yan vs Merab Dvalishvili
Round 1
Merab shoots and momentarily gets it. Yan gets up fiercely. Merab goes for a takedown but doesn’t get it. Yan with a low kick. Yan to the body. Merab jumps in and a low kick. Yan misses a low kick. High pace action between them continues. Merab with another takedown and Yan stuffs it. Good calf kick from Yan. Yan with a body kick. Merab with a single leg attempt and doesn’t get it. Merab goes for the single leg, tries to trip him, but doesn’t get it. Yan with a heavy low kick. Merab goes for a takedown and doesn’t get it. Yan with a heavy calf kick. Merab gets a jab. Another takedown attempt blocked. Merab grapples with Yan off the fence. Yan gets out with a huge elbow on the break. Yan goes for a takedown and Merab scrambles, gets on top. He grapples with Yan against the fence. Yan with an uppercut to the body. Merab is holding onto Yan’s neck.
Round 2
Merab opens with a low kick. Merab gets the single leg but not quite as Yan gets out. Merab eats a low kick. He fires back with one. Merab lands some nice leg kicks. Yan haas changed stances. Merab with step in elbows to Yan’s guard. Yan with a counter left. Merab gets a takedown. Yan gets out. Merab goes for a takedown but doesn’t get it. Yan keeping his guard tight to block a series of head kicks. Yan defends a leg, trips Merab down, and lands a punch. He holds onto Merab as he gets up. Merab turns it around and gets Yan off the cage. They separate. Yan lands aa nice shot. Merab gets a takedown. He’s looking for Yan’s back. Yan gets out. Yan ends up on top to close the round.
Round 3
Merab throws a body kick. Yan strikes with his legs. Merab tries to get him down. Yan does well to defend it. Merba throws a big elbow. He goes a single leg. Yan defends it. They handfight and get in the middle. Merab goes for another single leg and nice defense from Yan. Merab lands a jab. He goes to grapple and holds onto Yan. They get back in the center. Merab goes for a single leg. Doesn’t get it. He shoots again and pins Yan against the cage. Yan does well to defend it. Yan gets out. Merab goes for a single leg and doesn’t get it. Another single leg. Turns to the back of Yan. Quick grappling exchange and they separate. Yan fires a kick and a takedown attempt.
Round 4
Merab opens with a jab. Yan goes to the body. Merab rushes in with a 1-2. Merab goes for a takedown and pins Yan against the cage. Yan gets out and pins Merab now. They get back in the middle. Yan defends another takedown attempt and goes for the uppercut to the body. Yan jabs and blocks a takedown attempt. Merab lands a clean left hook. Yan gets a hook in and another one. Calf kick from Merab and Yan fires one back. He defends a takedown attempt. Merab sets the new record for the most takedown attempts. He grapples with Yan on the feet. They end the round in the center.
Round 5
Merab with a low kick. He gets Yan’s neck and they separate. Yan with a low kick. Merab goes for a single leg and doesn’t get it. Tries to take Yan down again but doesn’t. Yan finally gets out. Merab goes for the single leg and lets go. Merab lands a jab and goes for the double leg. He keeps Yan off the fence before slamming him down. Yan gets up. Merab keeps the threat of takedown active. He lands a jab. Yan with a jab. Yan with a heavy body kick. Merab goes for a takedown but doesn’t get it. Yan slips down and Merab jumps on him. Yan gets up with Merab holding onto him. Yan gets out before Merab shoots for another takedown. Yan with a jab. Huge right from Merab. Merab keeps the pace up. Takedown attempts after takedown attempts. They end the fight with a brief striking exchange.
Official Result: Merab Dvalishvili defeats Petr Yan by unanimous decision (50-45 x3).
Check out the highlights below:
The Machine putting it into gear 🦾@MerabDvalishvil #UFCLasVegas pic.twitter.com/1uoqItAlaY
— UFC (@ufc) March 12, 2023
Machine like output by @MerabDvalishvil! #UFCLasVegas pic.twitter.com/LlIhOyTikJ
— UFC (@ufc) March 12, 2023
25 minutes of straight dominance by @MerabDvalishvil! #UFCLasVegas pic.twitter.com/dWqIze98Tx
— UFC (@ufc) March 12, 2023
9️⃣ straight wins for The Machine as he takes out #2 in the bantamweight division @MerabDvalishvil! #UFCLasVegas pic.twitter.com/FJqtcVK6fT
— UFC (@ufc) March 12, 2023
