Overview
- Makhachev said he prefers Umar Nurmagomedov to face Merab Dvalishvili again to avenge the UFC 311 defeat rather than chase an immediate championship opportunity.
- Nurmagomedov remains booked to fight Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 324 on January 24.
- Petr Yan reclaimed the bantamweight title by unanimous decision over Dvalishvili at UFC 323, prompting talk of a trilogy that Makhachev believes would favor Yan.
- Speculation over Yan’s next challenger includes Sean O’Malley, whose UFC 324 matchup with Song Yadong is viewed by some outlets as a possible springboard to a title bout.
- The UFC’s proposed White House card is still unconfirmed, and Yan has teased interest in an O’Malley rematch there according to social posts.