​UFC 333 is just three days away, and the co-main event is the card’s most intriguing fight. The trilogy between bantamweight champion Petr Yan and former champ Merab Dvalishvili had to happen.Yan and Dvalishvili are 1-1 against each other, with both fighters winning by dominant unanimous decisions. Dvalishvili enters the third fight on a layoff, having not fought since his last bout against Yan in December 2025, attempting to defend his bantamweight title for the fourth time in one calendar year, a feat never accomplished before.MORE: UFC 333: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Movsar Evloev, main card predictionsAside from Yan’s success on the feet and takedown defense, Dvalishvili looked like he had lost a step, like the activity was catching up to him. Frankly, that makes sense. There’s a reason no one has ever defended a UFC title four times in one year. Now, close to a year removed from competition, Dvalishvili should be amped up and ready. However, another factor to watch ahead of his trilogy against Yan is his return.Back in April of 2026, Dvalishvili was kneed during a sparring session and broke his nose. That injury was aggravated again in a wrestling match against UFC legend Frankie Edgar. A lingering nose injury is a major concern for any sport, and Dvalishvili’s coach’s latest comments aren’t very reassuring. Ray Longo says Merab Dvalishvili’s nose isn’t fixedDec 6, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, UNITED STATES; Merab Dvalishvili fights Petr Yan during UFC 323 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images; Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)Head coach of the Serra-Longo gym, most notably cornered Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, Ray Longo gave an update on his prize pupil.Longo is a recurring guest on the Anik & Florian Podcast, hosted by UFC play-by-play commentator Jon Anik and former UFC fighter Kenny Florian. When talking with the co-hosts about Dvalishvili’s nose, Longo was as blunt as can be. “He’s going to get hit in that nose, and that nose looks like it’s going to bleed. He chose not to have it fixed before the fight.” Safe to say the Yan vs. Merab trilogy fight is gonna be a bloody one 🤣Merab’s longtime coach Ray Longo updates Jon Anik and Kenny Florian on the status of Merab’s nose heading into UFC 333 and what to expect.Full Episode on the Anik & Florian Podcast YouTube! pic.twitter.com/bheCwnkMqA— Anik & Florian Podcast (@anikflorianpod) October 21, 2026As soon as Longo said that, Anik was clearly astonished, looking more concerned about the nose than Longo. The other piece of this that’s so weird is Longo mentioning that in the first place, on a podcast hosted by the most prominent media figure in the sport. If the nose wasn’t a clear target before, it is now. Yan will make a point of peppering Dvalishvili’s nose with jabs and straight punches down the middle. Dvalishvili has a superhuman mindset and work ethic, but a nose injury that