Ilia Topuria Reacts with Disbelief to Merab Dvalishvili Loss at UFC 333

Yan Claims Unanimous Decision at UFC 333

Merab Dvalishvili absorbed his second defeat on October 24, 2026, dropping a unanimous decision to Petr Yan in the UFC 333 co-main event at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. While judges scored the contest 48-47 across the board for Yan, the verdict drew immediate disbelief from Ilia Topuria, who streamed his live reaction from a watch party.

Topuria Protests Scorecards on Livestream

Topuria gathered with a group of supporters to watch the five-round bantamweight clash. As the championship rounds played out on screen, the former two-weight UFC champion questioned the live scoring parameters. “Who watched the fight? 48-47, Yan? No,” Topuria said on his livestream. “What are you saying? Who won? Merab won, yes.”

The Room Reacts to Buffer’s Verdict

When announcer Bruce Buffer prepared to read the official scorecards, Topuria turned his back to the television set. The room erupted into a collective groan as the three 48-47 tallies in favor of Yan were confirmed. Turning back to address the camera directly, Topuria offered words of encouragement to his Georgian compatriot. “Merab, look, we’re proud of you anyways,” he said. The atmosphere in the room shifted when Dvalishvili appeared on screen for a post-fight interview with Daniel Cormier, prompting applause from Topuria and the gathered fans.

White Outlines Title Picture for 2027

The outcome leaves Dvalishvili facing a steep climb back into title contention within the 135-pound division. UFC CEO Dana White addressed the bantamweight division during the post-event press conference at UFC 333, indicating that matchmakers spent the evening weighing options for Yan's next defense. According to White, either Song Yadong or Sean O’Malley will receive the next opportunity to challenge for the bantamweight championship sometime in 2027.

Matchmakers Weigh Next Challenger

“Yeah, well, me and the matchmakers were texting the entire night about Song Yadong and O’Malley,” White told reporters. “Obviously, both are great options, and it’s a good problem to have to figure out which one of those two would be next.”

For Dvalishvili, the consecutive losses mark a critical juncture in a career that recently held championship status, necessitating a rebuild within a division where the title picture for 2027 is already narrowing around other contenders.

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