Merab Dvalishvili walked out of RAF 09 with a win over Frankie Edgar and a guarantee from the UFC for a championship opportunity.
The Georgian fighter made it clear in his post-fight interview that the UFC has given him big assurances.
What happened at RAF 09?
Merab Dvalishvili beat Frankie Edgar and called out his next target, Henry Cejudo, after the fight.
The former bantamweight champion wants to stay busy and keep fighting while waiting for Petr Yan to recover from his back injury.
Why it matters for Merab Dvalishvili
The UFC has apparently told Merab Dvalishvili that there will be no interim belt at 135 pounds while Petr Yan recovers.
This means that Merab Dvalishvili will fight Petr Yan for the championship when he returns.
Merab Dvalishvili said "I hope he will come back soon. But the UFC told me there is no interim belt in this weight class".
What comes next for Merab Dvalishvili?
Merab Dvalishvili wants to fight Henry Cejudo before facing Petr Yan for the championship.
The former champ wants to keep beating top fighters and make his list of wins even bigger while he waits for the next big title fight.
Merab Dvalishvili called out Henry Cejudo, saying "Henry, I hope you have big balls… let’s go show me some Mexican balls bro!".
The rivalry between Merab Dvalishvili and Petr Yan has been building for a while, with one win apiece.
Petr Yan took the second meeting and the championship with it, but Merab Dvalishvili is waiting for his chance to reclaim the title.
Merab Dvalishvili is doing exactly what champions are supposed to do in the meantime, staying active and making noise about what comes next.
The former champion got his hand raised against Frankie Edgar at RAF 09 on May 31, 2026.
Merab Dvalishvili is waiting for Petr Yan to recover from his back injury, which has sidelined him for now.
The UFC has assured Merab Dvalishvili that he will fight Petr Yan for the championship when he returns.
Merab Dvalishvili is staying busy and keeping fighting while waiting for his chance to reclaim the title.