About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement T.J. Dillashaw thinks body work will be key for both Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili if they want to leave UFC 333 with the bantamweight title.
Yan (20-5 MMA, 12-4 UFC) and Dvalishvili (21-3 MMA, 14-3 UFC) will complete their trilogy on Saturday when they collide once again in Saturday's co-main event at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi ( Paramount+ ), and Dillashaw admits it can go either way.
It's been two different outcomes in the previous meetings, with Dvalishvili taking a unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 221 in March 2021, then Yan exacting revenge with a unanimous decision of his own to claim gold at UFC 323 in December.
It's all on the line in the rubber match, and former 135-pound kingpin Dillashaw gave his general breakdown, keys to victory and ultimate prediction of how things will unfold below:
"I just think that Yan really had the answers. Yan looked fantastic. Takedown defense was amazing and a guy that fights like Merab, looking for those takedowns, that's his path to victory just relentlessly grinding and getting those takedowns. If he can't get you down and it's failed shot after failed shot, then his gas tank is never going to be as good as the guy defending shots, even if you are the more in-shape fighter. We'll see if four fights in one year had a factor, but I think Yan just has the game plan and looked really good."
"He can use him getting in on the body as much as Yan did to him, if not more. He's got the cardio to do it, and I think that's his path to victory is really getting better at chaining everything together. I think 40 takedown attempts is fine. Just using is as a weapon even if you don't get the takedown. Because the control was hard for him (in the second fight). He got him down, and he would get back to his feet. Using those 40 attempts as a feint. Using those 40 attempts as a jab. Those takedowns are just as effective as throwing out a jab to keep you out of rhythm."
"Yan's path to victory is continuing to dig that body. He was really good with the jab. He was really good with his left kick from southpaw. Keep those going. They worked very well. Keep up your takedown defense the way he was doing it. You know Merab is going to get there. He's really good about getting there. You're not going to stop him every time. I would like to see Yan work the body even more than he did the second fight. Even more."
"I am leaning towards Yan. Tough fight. It really is. I think he had all the answers, and that confidence builds. He's had some losses, but those losses were (weird). His losses are minuscule losses, and then that last fight, I think just builds so much confidence that he has what it takes. The answer for Merab, the cardio for Merab. I'm leaning towards Yan, but I think it's going to be a banger of a fight again. Merab is never going to stop and you have to beat the bricks off him to win."
To hear more of Dillashaw's UFC 333 analysis and predictions, check out his complete appearance on "The Bohnfire" podcast with MMA Junkie senior reporter Mike Bohn above.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: T.J. Dillashaw labels X-factor in Petr Yan vs. Merab Dvalishvili trilogy at UFC 333
Source: Sports
0 Comments