Merab Dvalishvili aimed to make history in Las Vegas by defending his bantamweight title for the fourth time this year but was ultimately held back by one of Petr Yan’s best performances ever.
In the opposite corner stood the renowned Georgian, who had previously defeated his long-time rival Yan by decision over two years ago. Since then, the Russian fighter has climbed the ranks and earned an opportunity to reclaim the championship at UFC 323.
Before this rematch at T-Mobile Arena, Dvalishvili had already reasserted his dominance in the 135-pound division once and was working toward a series of bouts against the top contender. However, he encountered a formidable challenge from the well-prepared Yan.
Notably, Yan appeared significantly larger compared to their first meeting. While Dvalishvili isn’t physically imposing for a bantamweight, cutting down to 135 pounds four times within a year seemed to take its toll. Early on, the champion absorbed heavy shots but struggled to hold Yan at bay. With roughly two minutes left in the first round, Yan landed a powerful punch, but Dvalishvili quickly transitioned into a takedown attempt.
At the beginning of round two, Dvalishvili charged forward landing a strong right hand, yet Yan responded with a takedown, only to find himself on the bottom soon after. Yan remained standing for most of the second round and continued to dominate with takedown slams early in the third. Even when taken down, Yan swiftly returned to his feet.
A body kick from Yan in round four visibly hurt Dvalishvili, who pressed forward despite the pain. Though the champion nearly ended the fight with a guillotine choke, Yan escaped. A devastating right hand at the round’s end left Dvalishvili bleeding from his nose. Heading into the final round, commentator Joe Rogan noted Yan had “solved the puzzle.” The champion couldn’t regain control and was subdued following another guillotine attempt. Yan sealed his victory with a last takedown, winning unanimously.
UFC 323 was a night full of remarkable moments. The co-main event ended unexpectedly when Alexandre Pantoja was injured just 26 seconds in, crowning Joshua Vann as the second-youngest UFC champion ever. The event featured thrilling battles overall, though one fighter in the bantamweight division decided to retire—Henry Cejudo lost in the third round to Peyton Talbot, ending his losing streak and stepping away from competition. Cejudo leaves behind a legacy as one of the sport’s most decorated athletes, with two UFC titles and an Olympic gold medal in freestyle wrestling.
Fan Take: This intense rivalry between Dvalishvili and Yan adds a compelling chapter to bantamweight history and highlights the high stakes in title contention. For fight fans, it’s a testament to the resilience and evolving skills at the top levels—and sets the stage for an epic potential trilogy that could define the division for years to come.
