Merab Dvalishvili’s December 2025 unanimous decision loss to Petr Yan at UFC 323, coupled with a broken nose that required recovery time, prompted UFC officials to immediately greenlight a trilogy rematch targeted for summer 2026. This official commitment anchors trader consensus around Yan as the clear frontrunner, reflecting the division’s emphasis on high-stakes rematches and redemption arcs. Recent comments from Dvalishvili confirm the fight is set once he returns to full health, sidelining immediate title shots against Umar Nurmagomedov or Deiveson Figueiredo. Cory Sandhagen and Aiemann Zahabi remain viable alternatives if scheduling shifts, while lower-priced names like Sean O’Malley represent long-shot scenarios dependent on further title movement in the bantamweight ranks.