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

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2 hours 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

Belal Muhammad gives Max Holloway warning ahead of Conor McGregor fight

Published

6 hours ago

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July 8, 2026

By

Belal Muhammad gives Max Holloway warning ahead of Conor McGregor fight
Belal
Muhammad believes Max
Holloway should initially play it really safe against Conor
McGregor.

McGregor (22-6) returns to action after a five-year hiatus from the

Ultimate Fighting Championship in a welterweight matchup
against Holloway (27-9) in the main event of
UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. While Muhammad foresees
a striking-heavy bout, he believes Holloway should be the one to
initiate wrestling against the returning former two-division
champion.

Belal Muhammad explains why Max Holloway should wrestle Conor
McGregor early at UFC 329

Muhammad notes that McGregor’s form, speed and power are unknown
after his long layoff. The former welterweight champion believes
“Notorious†could still pose a serious knockout threat in the first
two to three minutes, especially considering his move up to 170
pounds.

The 37-year-old also believes the Irish superstar's gas tank, which
was an issue even in his prime, will be an even bigger factor
now.

“I think that first three or four minutes, McGregor's gonna come
out hot,†Muhammad said on his YouTube channel. “When he was at the
top, his cardio was a problem. So now, five years off, extra
muscle, higher weight class, I think his cardio's gonna be even a
bigger problem.â€

According to Muhammad, Holloway should clinch and wrestle McGregor
early in the fight to just stay safe.

“I think probably the person that should initiate grappling should
be Holloway… [McGregor] has definitely added a lot of muscle on his
body. His cardio is gonna get drained,†he added. “So, for
Holloway, I would definitely add in a takedown to wear on him. To
get past the first three to four minutes.â€

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Paddy Pimblett collects $1,000 from Daniel Cormier after World Cup bet

Published

7 hours ago

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July 8, 2026

By

Paddy Pimblett collects $1,000 from Daniel Cormier after World Cup bet
Daniel
Cormier not only saw his national team crash out of the FIFA
World Cup but also lost a bet to Paddy
Pimblett.

The
Ultimate Fighting Championship Hall of Famer had bet $1,000 on
the U.S. to defeat Belgium in the Round of 16 knockout stage of the
FIFA World Cup. However, the co-hosts were knocked out via a 1-4
loss to Belgium and Cormier has paid his dues after meeting
Pimblett in Las Vegas ahead of
UFC 329.

Daniel Cormier pays Paddy Pimblett after losing FIFA World Cup
bet

Cormier admittedly let the hype get the better of him after the
U.S. defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in the Round of 32. The
former UFC double champ immediately paid Pimblett in cash, saying,
“I was filled with unnecessary confidence watching us beat Bosnia
and Herzegovina. Sh*t! Bro, I owe you money. I owe you $1,000.â€

They are both in Las Vegas, with UFC 329 set to go down at T-Mobile
Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, July 11. Pimblett will look to
return to winning ways after suffering the first loss of his UFC
career earlier this year, against Justin
Gaethje. The Englishman will square off against French
lightweight Benoit St.
Denis in the co-main event. Cormier returns to the commentary
booth for the upcoming numbered event.

Cormier has previously made several bold claims about American
soccer. While the USA is yet to cement its legacy in the sport,
“DC†believes his country would have dominated if it were as
prominent as basketball or American football stateside. In another
conversation with Pimblett, he claimed that MLS would surpass the
English Premier League if the best American athletes committed to
soccer.


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MMA

UFC fighter Brandon Royval’s five-year commitment outside the Octagon

Published

8 hours ago

on

July 8, 2026

By

UFC fighter Brandon Royval’s five-year commitment outside the Octagon
Brandon
Royval has been serving his community for half a decade.

The
Ultimate Fighting Championship flyweight recently revealed that
he has been volunteering for five years at the Denver Dream Center,
a non-profit organization that helps youth from troubled
backgrounds rebuild their lives.

Brandon Royval's Denver Dream Center volunteer work before UFC
329

Royval feels privileged to have built personal relationships with
less-fortunate kids and watched them grow into young adults. The
former title challenger said in the
UFC 329 “Embedded†video series:

“The Dream Center is – we pick up the kids in the local area,
normally the lower-income area. We bring them, feed them, just
create relationships, and check up on everybody… Five years I've
been a volunteer there. And it's cool cause most of the kids are in
middle school or high school. So I've watched them become young
adults and handle adversity. So it's been really cool and a real
privilege.â€

Bryan Sederwall, the pastor at the Denver Dream Center, says Royval
has been consistent for the past five years. Sederwall claims “Raw
Dawg†always keeps his commitments to kids, even if he has a fight
coming up.

Royval (17-9) is set to collide with Lone'er
Kavanagh in a flyweight matchup at UFC 329, which goes down at
T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, July 11. He will look to
rebound from back-to-back losses against Joshua Van
and Manel Kape.
Meanwhile, Kavanagh (10-1) is coming off a unanimous decision win
over former champion Brandon
Moreno that saw him bounce back from his first professional
loss.

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