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Merab Dvalishvili sends message to Petr Yan, promises to make Henry Cejudo ‘get drunk’ in Georgia after RAF match

Published

4 months ago

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Merab Dvalishvili sends message to Petr Yan, promises to make Henry Cejudo ‘get drunk’ in Georgia after RAF match

After four title fights in one calendar year, Merab Dvalishvili has been patiently waiting for word on his rematch against Petr Yan to settle their trilogy sometime in 2026.

Unfortunately, Dvalishvili hasn't heard a single word from the UFC on when he might actually get the chance to face Yan again and with the calendar already filled through August, the former champion is admittedly getting a little anxious. The original delay in booking the trilogy centered around Yan suffering an injury that was going to delay his return to action and Dvalishvili sent a message to the reigning UFC bantamweight champion in hopes of getting some kind of word about booking that third fight — hopefully sooner than later.

“I guess I'm not fighting in August and I haven't heard anything from Petr Yan,†Dvalishvili told MMA Fighting. “I'm just waiting for him and I'm praying he's coming back soon. I don't know.

“Petr, come back soon, bro. Let's fight. I want to fight. Let's go.â€

If there's one advantage to the time off, Dvalishvili has been able to heal up some nagging injuries, although he added to that list recently after breaking his nose in training and then again during a recent wrestling match.

Dvalishvili downplayed the severity of the nose injury on both occasions and he almost expects it to happen again, which is why he's not stressing that affecting his ability to fight in the near future.

“My nose is good now,†Dvalishvili said. “It's healed up. But if it happens, I don't care anymore. I'll be fine.â€

With the Yan trilogy still on hold, Dvalishvili has been keeping busy in his spare time by crossing over to freestyle wrestling with matches booked in RAF.

Following a win over UFC Hall of Famer Frankie Edgar in his RAF debut, Dvalishvili now gets the chance to fight at home with the promotion going to Georgia on Saturday for an international event with the former bantamweight champion facing Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo in the main event.

They were originally scheduled to clash at a prior RAF event but Cejudo dropped off the card at the last minute due to undisclosed reasons. Now Dvalishvili faces Cejudo in his native country and he admits that raises the stakes dramatically for him personally.

“This is pressure for sure,†Dvalishvili said. “I haven't competing in my country since 2010. It's going to be exciting but maybe a little bit stressful, too, because I can't lose [in front of] my people. It's going to be hard. Who knows?â€

When they met in the UFC, Dvalishvili was able to take Cejudo down and ultimately win a unanimous decision before moving onto capture the title at 135 pounds.

But that was MMA and this time Dvalishvili is a distinct underdog going against Cejudo, who captured an Olympic gold medal in freestyle wrestling back in 2008. No matter the result, Dvalishvili says he's planning for a raucous night in Georgia after he faces Cejudo and he wants the former two-division UFC champion that he better have his party shoes on after the match.

“Maybe he wants to avenge his loss and I'm sure he's training hard to beat me,†Dvalishvili said. “Let's see. He's the best at wrestling. I have an advantage competing at my home in Georgia but it's his sport wrestling. We'll see what's going to happen.

“Whatever it will be, I'll be happy. After our match, win or lose, I'm going to make Henry Cejudo get drunk in Georgia. Give him lots of good Georgian food and show him hospitality. I have so much respect for Henry. He's a good athlete and a good father.â€

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MMA

Johnny Walker wanted to take it slow at heavyweight, then UFC called

Published

3 hours ago

on

November 8, 2026

By

Johnny Walker wanted to take it slow at heavyweight, then UFC called
Johnny
Walker's heavyweight run is going faster than he planned.

Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweights Sean Brady
and Gabriel
Bonfim were originally scheduled to headline
UFC Vegas 124 on Nov. 7 at Meta Apex in Las Vegas. However,
Brady pulled out because of a severe staph infection and the
promotion didn't book a replacement to keep Bonfim on the card.
Walker then accepted the headlining matchup against Waldo
Cortes-Acosta on nine days' notice.

What a victory over Waldo Cortes-Acosta could mean for Johnny
Walker

Walker (23-10, 1 NC) made his heavyweight debut against Mick Parkin
in October, scoring a bonus-winning first-round knockout. The
former light heavyweight recently revealed he originally wanted to
take things slow in his new weight class.

“I was thinking to take small steps and go slow in the division,â€
Walker said at media day ahead of UFC Vegas 124. “See how I feel at
heavyweight. That was my plan. God had different plans than me. God
has better plans for me.â€

Cortes-Acosta (17-4) was riding a three-fight win streak before
losing to Alexander
Volkov and Curtis
Blaydes this year. A win over “Salsa Boy†will launch Walker
into the heavyweight Top 10 in just his second appearance in the
division.

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MMA

UFC Vegas 124: 'Cortes-Acosta vs. Walker' Live Results and Highlights

Published

17 hours ago

on

November 7, 2026

By

UFC Vegas 124: 'Cortes-Acosta vs. Walker' Live Results and Highlights
Trending:

Dricus du Plessis' move to light heavyweight teased by next potential opponent

The Octagon remains at the Apex for tonight's UFC Vegas 124 event, a 14-bout fight card headlined by Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Johnny Walker.

Cortes-Acosta (17-4 MMA) will enter this evening's main event with hopes of snapping a two-fight losing skid. ‘Salsa Boy' is coming off unanimous decision losses to Curtis Blaydes and Alexander Volkov in his most recent Octagon appearances. Prior to those setbacks, Waldo had strung together three straight stoppage wins, including a second-round TKO victory over Derrick Lewis.

Meanwhile, Johnny Walker (23-10 MMA) made his return to heavyweight last month and scored first-round knockout victory over Mick Parkin. The 34-year-old Brazilian has gone 2-3 over his past five fights overall.

UFC Vegas 124 is co-headlined by a women's strawweight bout between perennial division contenders Tatiana Suarez and Virna Jandiroba.

Suarez (12-1 MMA) will enter the contest on a two-fight winning streak, this after scoring victories over Amanda Lemos and Loopy Godinez in her most recent Octagon appearances. Prior to those triumphs, Tatiana had suffered her first career loss at the hands of Weili Zhang in a bout for the women's strawweight title.

Meanwhile, Virna Jandiroba (23-4 MMA) most previously competed this past April, where she scored a unanimous decision victory over Tabatha Ricci. Prior to that, ‘Carcará' dropped a decision to Mackenzie Dern in a fight for the promotion's then vacant strawweight title at UFC 321.

Get all of tonight's live results and highlights below (refresh for updates):

UFC Vegas 124 Main Card (8pm EST on Paramount+)

265 lbs: Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Johnny Walker – Walker def. Cortes-Acosta via TKO at 2:27 of Round 3

115 lbs: Tatiana Suarez vs. Virna Jandiroba – Suarez def. Jandiroba by unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)

135 lbs: Davey Grant vs. Elijah Smith – Smith def. Grant via KO (punches) at 1:00 of Round 1

205 lbs: Billy Elekana vs. Lucas Fernando – Fernando def. Elekana by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

135 lbs: Priscila Cachoeira vs. Nina Milosevic – Milosevic def. Cachoeira via TKO (elbows and punches) at 3:40 of Round 2

125 lbs: Mitch Raposo vs. Marcos Degli – Raposo def. Degli by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

UFC Vegas 124 Prelims (5pm EST on Paramount+)

145 lbs: Ollie Schmid vs. Keiichiro Nakamura – Schmid def. Nakamura by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

265 lbs: Thomas Petersen vs. Gabriel Lorenco – Peterson def. via TKO (punches) at 4:47 of Round 3

125 lbs: Karine Silva vs. Gabriella Fernandes – Silva def. Fernandes by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

145 lbs: Murtazali Magomedov vs. Jose Delano – Magomedov def. Delano by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

145 lbs: Austin Bashi vs. Carlos Calderon – Bashi def. Calderon via submission (rear naked choke) at 1:07 of Round 1

185 lbs: Andre Petroski vs. Mantas Kondratavicius – Petroski def. Kondratavicius via TKO (ground and pound) at 4:39 of Round 2

170 lbs: Seokhyeon Ko vs. Wellington Turman – Ko def. Turman by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

170 lbs: Jose Souza vs. Jonny Parsons – Souza def. Parsons via KO (punches) at 4:16 of Round 2

Who are you picking to emerge victorious in tonight's heavyweight main event between Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Johnny Walker? Share your predictions in the comment section Penn Nation!

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM

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MMA

Video: Mo Deen’s vicious knockout sparks all-out brawl with chairs, steel barricades flying at Unhinged 3

Published

19 hours ago

on

November 7, 2026

By

Video: Mo Deen’s vicious knockout sparks all-out brawl with chairs, steel barricades flying at Unhinged 3

The influencer boxing scene had a tough night, with a card getting cancelled before the Unhinged 3 main event.

On Saturday, influencer HSTikkyTokky put on a boxing event in Ireland, and in one of the featured contests featured winless Misfits Boxing fighter Mo Deen taking on MrTikTokUK. At long last, Mo Deen got a win, knocking down is overmatched opponent multiple times before delivering a fight-ending knockout.

After the win, Mo Deen leaped into the crowd towards the commentary table, where he attempted to get his hands on English Defence League co-founder and controversial U.K. political activist Tommy Robinson.

From there, Robinson is shown on camera holding a book, and Mo Deen attacked him in the ring, and all hell broke loose. Check out the footage below.

Chairs and even steel barricades were seen being lifted and thrown throughout the melee that took place in and around the ring, and the crowd. A few minutes later, the promotion called the event then and there.

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