News Petr Yan opens as betting underdog for Merab trilogy

[ChessJitsu]

Petr Yan opens as betting underdog for Merab trilogy, despite unplugging ‘The Machine’ at UFC 323

UFC 323 results: Petr Yan ends the bantamweight championship reign of Merab Dvalishvili and evens the score at one apiece after the Dec. 6 PPV in Las Vegas.

www.mmamania.com

Merab is turning 35 in 1 month, which is very old for bantamweight division.

Petr took years off his chin and body this weekend too.

I mean Paotan/Ankalaev was an example where these trends didn't lead to the conclusion it usually points to but still..

 

[FlyAmericanEagle]

Oddsmakers know what's up

 

[fendertach]

You're fucking high if you think UFC is giving Merab an instant rematch.

 

[Hymen Crusher]

Merab has been so incredibly active he could just need a break . Hopefully we will get to see

 

[hbombbisping]

You're fucking high if you think UFC is giving Merab an instant rematch.

About as much chance as Belal had of getting rematch against JMD

Zero buddeh

 

[wrb]

You're fucking high if you think UFC is giving Merab an instant rematch.

Merab should wait but your high if you think a 3 x champion who called out Yan and gave him his second chance plus defended 4 times in a year and made the last ESPN card one of the best nights this year is not going to get a rematch immediately if he wants it. Honestly Yan should be excited to fight Merab instead of Umar but I hope Merab chills out and we get Umar vs Yan next. They even gave Yan an immediate rematch when he fouled Algo..

 

[FlyAmericanEagle]

Merab should wait but your high if you think a 3 x champion who called out Yan and gave him his second chance plus defended 4 times in a year and made the last ESPN card one of the best nights this year is not going to get a rematch immediately if he wants it. Honestly Yan should be excited to fight Merab instead of Umar but I hope Merab chills out and we get Umar vs Yan next. They even gave Yan an immediate rematch when he fouled Algo..

 

[hbombbisping]

Merab should wait but your high if you think a 3 x champion who called out Yan and gave him his second chance plus defended 4 times in a year and made the last ESPN card one of the best nights this year is not going to get a rematch immediately if he wants it.

Have you not been paying attention to the UFC for the last decade?

This is not a sport, it's sports entertainment.

Merab is never getting that rematch best believe that buddeh

 

[ChessJitsu]

Merab should wait but your high if you think a 3 x champion who called out Yan and gave him his second chance plus defended 4 times in a year and made the last ESPN card one of the best nights this year is not going to get a rematch immediately if he wants it. Honestly Yan should be excited to fight Merab instead of Umar but I hope Merab chills out and we get Umar vs Yan next. They even gave Yan an immediate rematch when he fouled Algo..

lol at you thinking the UFC is based on meritocracy

 

[ChessJitsu]

Have you not been paying attention to the UFC for the last decade?

This is not a sport, it's sports entertainment.

Merab is never getting that rematch best believe that buddeh

I think Dana implied that Merab will get instant rematch in post fight interview but Dana's also a liar

 

[JoeRowe]

lol at you thinking the UFC is based on meritocracy

No but Dana has been very complimentary of Merab after each one of his past 4 fights including last night. It's not a given that he'll get a rematch but I definitely think its in play.

 

[wrb]

Have you not been paying attention to the UFC for the last decade?

This is not a sport, it's sports entertainment.

Merab is never getting that rematch best believe that buddeh

I think he already got it, he asked Dana before they declared Yan the winner on live TV. I still hope he does not take it until later and we get Yan vs Umar

 

[ChessJitsu]

I think he already got it, he asked Dana before they declared Yan the winner on live TV. I still hope he does not take it until later and we get Yan vs Umar

I mean it makes sense to run it back.

Petr Yan acknowledges the fairness of it.

I didn't think of it as a hypothetical.

I just made this thread because I'm surprised Yan is an underdog again.

 

[HatKick]

Yan with two healthy hands is better than Merab. Merab can win if Yan has a bad night but I don't know what he's gonna do differenty in the 3rd fight. He went super hard and did his Merab thing and it just didn't work.

 

[ChessJitsu]

Merab arguably has the worst striking in the top 5.

He compensates for it with having the best wrestling and an iron head with an insane gas tank.

Looks like Petr figured out that he can put a dent in that gas tank with body strikes (which also circumvents the iron head problem).

I think Petr is going to request the trilogy fight to take place in the Middle East because he complained about Merab having an easy time fighting in his back yard all the time.

I think it's fair to assume that fighting 4 times in 1 year took something out of Merab but he's also 35 years old next month.

Not enough people pay attention to this.

Being 35 at bantamweight is like being 40 at heavyweight.

 

[ChessJitsu]

Yan with two healthy hands is better than Merab. Merab can win if Yan has a bad night but I don't know what he's gonna do differenty in the 3rd fight. He went super hard and did his Merab thing and it just didn't work.

I guess he could improve his striking.

In breakdowns they explain how Yan was landing body shots because of left hand faints and set ups.

Thing is the speed difference between the 2 might increase even further into Yan's favor in 2026.

 

[Nugo]

almost sure merab will win trilogy

 

[ChessJitsu]

almost sure merab will win trilogy

I hope not.

 

[Paladin]

Yan with two healthy hands is better than Merab. Merab can win if Yan has a bad night but I don't know what he's gonna do differenty in the 3rd fight. He went super hard and did his Merab thing and it just didn't work.

He felt the best of Yan, Yan felt best of Merab (or the cocky version) it will be good to see who is able to make good adjustments

 

[TempleoftheDog]

I thought the odds for the rematch were out of whack. This is a bit surprising that Merab is favoured to open.