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€