TLDR
- Petr Yan defeated Merab Dvalishvili by unanimous decision at UFC 323 to win the bantamweight championship
- Yan’s victory ended Dvalishvili’s 14-fight winning streak that dated back to April 2018
- The fight was a rematch of their March 2023 bout, which Dvalishvili won by unanimous decision
- Dvalishvili was attempting his fourth title defense of 2025, which would have been a UFC record
- In the co-main event, Joshua Van won the flyweight title from Alexandre Pantoja via first-round TKO after Pantoja suffered an arm injury
Petr Yan recaptured the UFC bantamweight championship on Saturday night at UFC 323, defeating defending champion Merab Dvalishvili by unanimous decision in the main event. The victory marked Yan’s return to the top of the 135-pound division after previously losing the title.
Yan entered the octagon with a record of 19-5 and left as a two-time bantamweight champion with a 20-5 record. He utilized punishing strikes and crushing kicks to the body throughout the five-round contest. The Russian fighter’s performance brought an end to Dvalishvili’s lengthy winning streak.
Dvalishvili had not tasted defeat since April 21, 2018, when Ricky Simon submitted him. His winning streak had reached 14 consecutive victories. The Georgian fighter entered UFC 323 with a 21-4 record and left with his first loss in over seven years.
The championship bout was a rematch of the fighters’ first meeting on March 11, 2023. In that UFC Fight Night card encounter, Dvalishvili defeated Yan by unanimous decision. The 32-year-old Yan had been seeking revenge for that loss.
Dvalishvili, 34, entered the fight as a heavy favorite. Bettors at BetMGM needed to wager $425 to win $100 on the champion. Those who placed $100 on Yan walked away with $320 in winnings.
Champion’s Preparation Pays Off
After the fight, Yan spoke through an interpreter about his victory. “I’m very happy to stand here with the championship belt; thank you to all the fans,” he said. “I worked so hard, I prepared so hard for this moment.”
The Russian fighter demonstrated improved wrestling defense throughout the bout. He also showed offensive wrestling capabilities that helped neutralize Dvalishvili’s typically dominant grappling approach. Yan repeatedly hurt Dvalishvili with body kicks and maintained striking control across all five rounds.
Historic Title Defense Attempt Falls Short
Dvalishvili was attempting to make history at UFC 323. The bout represented his fourth title defense of 2025. Had he won, he would have become the first UFC fighter to successfully defend a championship four times in a single calendar year.
Earlier in 2025, Dvalishvili had defended his title three times. He defeated Umar Nurmagomedov and Cory Sandhagen by decision. He also submitted rival Sean O’Malley during his championship run.
After the loss, Dvalishvili addressed the result in brief comments. “I lost today,” he said. “Congratulations to him.” He later posted on social media: “Tonight wasn’t my night, but I will be back stronger than ever. Thank you everyone for your support.”
The former champion had established himself as one of the most active fighters on the UFC roster. His willingness to defend the title multiple times in a single year set him apart from many other champions. The loss ended his reign at the top of the bantamweight division.
The co-main event saw Joshua Van capture the flyweight championship from Alexandre Pantoja. Van won by TKO just 26 seconds into the first round. Pantoja injured his left shoulder after throwing a right kick, bracing his fall with his left arm. The arm buckled, and referee Herb Dean stopped the fight immediately.
Dvalishvili’s record now stands at 21-5, while Yan improved to 20-5 with the victory on Saturday night.
