Merab Dvalishvili has warned Petr Yan "I'll eat you" after piling on nearly one and a half stone in just five hours. The Georgian fighter is seeking revenge when he meets his familiar rival at UFC 333.
Rapid Rehydration After Weigh-In
At UFC 323 last year, Yan beat Dvalishvili in a five-round decision. Dvalishvili had earlier admitted he found cutting to 135lbs (9.5 stone) difficult and suggested he made mistakes in the process.
He made the weight again at the weigh-in, but within five hours had rehydrated by nearly 1.5 stone. In a social media video, he stepped on the scales and revealed he was back at 11 stone.
In the clip, he said: "It's been only five hours since I made weight, and I'm back already. I've been drinking water...19 pounds. In only five hours, I gained back 19 pounds. That's how we do it. Let's go, now I'm back."
Verbal Exchange at Press Conference
He added: "Drinking, and recovering. Now I'm gonna start eating. Let's go. Eat food first, and tomorrow, you guys already know who I'm gonna eat. Let's f****** go."
During a heated press conference exchange, Dvalishvili told Yan: "Talk now. Enjoy. I will show you. Saturday I'll show you. I'll eat you."
Weight Cutting in MMA
Weight cutting is standard practice in MMA and other combat sports, with fighters typically shedding water weight before bouts. It is common for fighters to regain weight between the weigh-in and the fight through rehydration and food intake.
However, this was a dramatic spike over a short period and could give Dvalishvili a sizeable advantage. The UFC has introduced measures to make weight cuts safer, including outlawing IV drips and establishing the Performance Institute, which offers access to professional health specialists.
Previous Struggles with Weight
Last year, Dvalishvili cut weight so frequently he was regularly questioned about his physical wellbeing. After losing to Yan at UFC 323, he conceded he had made poor choices during his cut, saying: "I tried to put on a show and I lost the fight. He had a better game plan. Congrats to him, but I want a rematch. Making 135 is always hard for me because I cut weight my own way - I don't trust nutritionists.
"I'm not looking for excuses. I tried to fight in an exciting way, everyone is happy - that's what matters most. I didn't want to wrestle, fighting boring. I wanted to stand and trade with him, and today he was better."
