Aiemann Zahabi highlights the key matchup dynamic he thinks could favor Petr Yan in UFC 333 trilogy

Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili are set to meet again at UFC 333 in what has become one of the sport’s more compelling ongoing storylines, a trilogy that has already turned into a referendum on style, control and damage. In a conversation tied to the matchup, Aiemann Zahabi framed the bout less as a question of who is “better overall” and more as a question of whether Yan can find a specific path to success against Dvalishvili’s pressure.

Zahabi’s core message was that Yan carries a “main factor” he believes can tilt the fight in his favor. While the underlying reasons behind that factor were not fully detailed in the available text, the implication is clear: the decisive element, in Zahabi’s view, is not abstract, it is tactical and tied to what Yan can do in the moments that matter most against Dvalishvili’s grind.

The significance of a trilogy in UFC matchmaking is that it strips away some uncertainty. Both fighters have now faced each other with the same basic blueprint, and the matchup becomes a study in adjustments. Zahabi’s emphasis on the fight’s “main factor” suggests he expects Yan’s camp to have a concrete plan aimed at disrupting Dvalishvili’s game, rather than simply relying on general improvements.

For Dvalishvili, the natural counterpoint is his identity as an opponent who stresses fights over time, using forward movement, grappling pressure, and constant attempts to keep opponents uncomfortable. Against that type of opponent, small openings can be amplified, but also, any one area where the challenger can repeatedly steer the tempo becomes disproportionately important.

Still, the framing here comes from Zahabi’s perspective, not an official UFC preview with verified bout-specific breakdowns or confirmation of any tactical components. With limited information available in the current materials, the safest takeaway is that Zahabi believes Yan has a particular advantage to target, and that the outcome may hinge on whether Yan can repeatedly enforce that advantage in the face of Dvalishvili’s persistence.

What to watch next is how the fight starts, because trilogies often reward early clarity. If Yan is able to establish the element Zahabi is pointing to without immediately getting pulled into Dvalishvili’s preferred rhythm, the matchup’s script changes from “how long can Yan survive the pressure?” to “how consistently can Yan score and set traps?” If it goes the other way, the trilogy’s prior themes are likely to reassert themselves quickly.