“I think we both have a lot more information about each other than we did in the first fight,” Yan said in Russian during UFC 323 media interviews. “Between my rematch with [Magomed] Magomedov and my rematch with [Aljamain] Sterling, I was 100% better in the rematch. And, of course, this Saturday, I’m confident the rematch with Merab will be the same.”
If Yan does beat Dvalishvili — and oddsmakers have “No Mercy” as a +300 underdog — he says he’d be down for a trilogy fight to prove his win was no fluke.
“You know, looking ahead, I certainly think Merab deserves any rematch he wants,” Yan said. “Which I think the UFC would support if I win. I think it would be a cool trilogy.”
“We had a show in Thailand, we were supposed to coach opposite Merab there,” Yan said. “He talked a lot, they already bought him tickets. But in the end, he just got scared and didn’t show up.”
“Right now, I’m focused on my fight,” Yan said. “I’m not thinking about O’Malley now. Frankly, I have no desire to [fight him again]. Again, I don’t make the fights. The matchmakers and the UFC organize them. If such an offer comes up, my job is to do my job.”
With “Suga” holding that win over “No Mercy,” it seems like they’re destined to fight again regardless of how Yan feels about things. For now, he’s got a bigger target, and that’s Merab Dvalishvili’s bantamweight belt.
For the finalized UFC 323 fight card and PPV lineup click here.
