Merab Dvalishvili: Petr Yan trilogy fight will not take place at UFC White House

Russian fighters may not be part of the UFC White House, judging by Merab Dvalishvili’s comments. Petr Yan (20-5) challenged Dvalishvili (21-5) for the bantamweight title in a rematch at UFC 323 last month. Yan dethroned Dvalishvili in a huge upset and also avenged an earlier loss from 2023.

Dvalishvili claims the UFC has promised him a trilogy fight against Yan. However, Dvalishvili has also been told the match will not be booked on the highly anticipated card at the White House in June. According to Dvalishvili, the fight cannot take place in the White House because Yan is Russian.

Cold War renewed?

“All the UFC told me is that I’m next for the title,” Dvalishvili told Bet25. “They said there would be a trilogy between me and Yan, and they also told me that our fight will not take place at the White House on Trump’s birthday in June. [Yan] is Russian and that is impossible.”Color commentator Jon Anik recently speculated that the UFC White House card could have four to five title fights. However, there are concerns about American representation at the White House as no American-born UFC champions are currently booked to appear. If Yan is excluded because of his nationality, it could also mean that Russian welterweight champion Islam Makhachev and Chechen-born middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev will be sidelined.