LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – Petr Yan delivered a commanding performance on Saturday night, overwhelming Merab Dvalishvili to claim the bantamweight championship by unanimous decision at UFC 323. From the opening moments, Yan controlled the pace with precise, punishing strikes and a series of heavy kicks to Dvalishvili’s ribs, gradually breaking down a fighter who had not tasted defeat in nearly seven years. The win snapped Dvalishvili’s remarkable 14-fight streak and marked a deeply personal moment of redemption for Yan, who had previously lost to Dvalishvili in 2023. Speaking through an interpreter after the belt was wrapped around his waist, Yan credited relentless preparation and fan support for fueling his return to championship form. Dvalishvili, who entered the bout as a strong betting favorite, accepted the loss respectfully, congratulating Yan despite the disappointment of seeing his momentum halted.
The co-main event took a shocking turn almost immediately when challenger Joshua Van claimed the flyweight title from Alexandre Pantoja just 26 seconds into the first round. What began as a routine exchange quickly devolved into an unfortunate injury for Pantoja, who damaged his left shoulder while bracing his fall after throwing a high kick. Van, who had blocked the strike, immediately knelt beside the fallen champion in a display of sportsmanship once the referee stopped the action. Elsewhere on the main card, Tatsuro Taira secured the biggest win of his career by stopping Brandon Moreno with ground-and-pound in the second round of their flyweight matchup. Rising bantamweight contender Payton Talbott earned a dominant unanimous decision over former two-division champion Henry Cejudo, who announced it would be his final fight and was honored with a tribute afterward. In light heavyweight action, Jan Blachowicz and Bogdan Guskov battled to a majority draw after three competitive rounds. UFC 323 also marked the final pay-per-view event before the organization transitions to a new seven-year partnership with Paramount Plus, beginning with UFC 324 on January 24 in Las Vegas.
