Ilia Topuria Reacts to Merab Dvalishvili’s UFC 333 Loss

Ilia Topuria streamed his reaction as Merab Dvalishvili lost a unanimous decision to Petr Yan in the UFC 333 co-main event Saturday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. All three judges scored the bantamweight bout 48-47 for Yan, handing Dvalishvili his second straight defeat.

Topuria backs Dvalishvili after UFC 333

Topuria watched the five-round fight with a group of people gathered around a television. After the final bell, he asked viewers on his livestream who they thought had won. When someone suggested Yan by a 48-47 score, Topuria disagreed and said he believed Dvalishvili had earned the decision.

As Bruce Buffer announced the result, Topuria turned away from the screen. People in the room groaned when Yan was named the winner. Topuria then addressed his friend directly, telling him they were proud of him regardless of the loss.

The group applauded as Dvalishvili spoke with Daniel Cormier after the fight. Topuria had also nodded and clapped during the closely contested bout, according to the livestream footage.

Yan’s next title defense could come in 2027

Dvalishvili will need to work his way back into title contention after the defeat. UFC CEO Dana White said Song Yadong and Sean O’Malley are options to face Yan in his next bantamweight title defense.

White said he and the matchmakers discussed both fighters during the night at UFC 333. He described them as strong possibilities, but said the promotion still had to decide which would get the next shot at the 135-pound title. White said the title defense would take place in 2027; no opponent was confirmed.