Petr Yan’s confirmed return timeline after back surgery positions an immediate bantamweight title trilogy with Merab Dvalishvili as the clear frontrunner in trader pricing. UFC officials have explicitly promised Dvalishvili the next shot once recovered, with both fighters publicly targeting an August date that aligns with Yan’s midsummer clearance. Dvalishvili’s recent comments emphasizing the UFC’s commitment and his own readiness reinforce this consensus. Sean O’Malley sits a distant second as a stylistic alternate should scheduling slip, while Umar Nurmagomedov and Song Yadong represent longer-shot division contenders whose odds reflect limited recent momentum or direct matchmaking signals. Recent form, head-to-head history, and official injury updates continue to anchor the market’s heavy lean toward the rematch.