Merab Dvalishvili, known for his relentless energy and exceptional cardio, prepares to face Petr Yan in a trilogy bout at UFC 333 on Saturday in Abu Dhabi. The Georgian fighter, who turns 36 in January, aims to reclaim the UFC bantamweight title he lost to Yan in their rematch at UFC 323, where he suffered a unanimous decision defeat.

Dvalishvili, with a professional record of 21-5, expressed his ambition to fight until age 50, stating, "Age is just a number for me. I feel even better than what I was feeling when I was 25." He seeks to become the oldest bantamweight champion in UFC history, drawing inspiration from other champions like Alexander Volkanovski and Glover Teixeira, who have achieved success later in their careers.

In their previous encounters:

• First Fight: Dvalishvili scored a unanimous decision win, setting a UFC record with 49 takedown attempts.
• Rematch: Yan neutralized Dvalishvili’s strengths, winning decisively by unanimous decision and executing 5 takedowns.

Reflecting on his last performance, Dvalishvili admitted he wasn’t mentally prepared and acknowledged Yan’s skill. He stated, "Petr Yan was better and I did make some mistakes," emphasizing the need for proper training against such a formidable opponent.

As the trilogy approaches, Dvalishvili feels mentally ready and has trained with a new arsenal of strikes. He remains focused on winning, dismissing the idea of legacy or title significance in favor of his love for competition. "I just want to win against Petr Yan," he declared, promising fans a smarter and more prepared fighter this time around.