TLDR
- Petr Yan defeated Merab Dvalishvili via unanimous decision at UFC 323 to become a two-time UFC bantamweight champion
- The victory marked Yan’s fourth consecutive win and snapped Dvalishvili’s 14-fight winning streak
- Sean O’Malley, who previously fought both fighters, called it “one of the most impressive performances” he’s seen
- Yan is only the third fighter in UFC history to win the 135-pound title on multiple occasions
- O’Malley faces Song Yadong at UFC 324 in January as he looks to work back toward title contention
Petr Yan captured the UFC bantamweight championship for the second time in his career with a unanimous decision victory over Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 323. The win marked a reversal of their first meeting and extended Yan’s current winning streak to four fights.
The result surprised many observers who expected Dvalishvili to retain his title. Dvalishvili entered the bout on a 14-fight winning streak dating back to April 2018. Yan snapped that streak with his performance on Saturday night.
The two fighters first met at UFC Fight Night 221 in March 2023. Dvalishvili won that bout via unanimous decision in Las Vegas. It was the last time Yan lost a fight.
Former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley watched the fight closely and shared his reactions on social media. O’Malley has fought both men inside the octagon. He commented on the performance throughout the night.
“What a performance from Petr, everyone counted him out,” O’Malley said. He also noted a specific moment from the fight. “God, Merab getting slammed on his head might be my new screensaver,” O’Malley added.
After the final bell, O’Malley summarized his thoughts simply. “Holy shit, Petr Yan got the job done,” he said.
Yan’s Championship History
Yan first won the bantamweight title in July 2020 with a TKO victory over Jose Aldo. He lost the belt in his first title defense to Aljamain Sterling by disqualification. The loss came after Yan delivered an illegal knee to a downed opponent.
Yan then won the interim championship, which set up a rematch with Sterling at UFC 273. Sterling retained the title via split decision. After that loss, Yan suffered a third consecutive defeat to Dvalishvili.
The recent victory makes Yan only the third fighter in UFC history to capture the 135-pound championship on multiple occasions. He joined an elite group with this accomplishment. Yan and Dvalishvili have now spent 50 minutes fighting inside the octagon across two bouts.
O’Malley’s Connection to the Fight
O’Malley defeated Yan by split decision at UFC 280 in October 2022. That victory eventually led to a title opportunity for O’Malley. He captured the bantamweight championship with a knockout win over Sterling at UFC 292 in August 2023.
O’Malley defended the belt against Marlon Vera at UFC 299 in March 2024. He then lost the title to Dvalishvili via unanimous decision at UFC 306. O’Malley received an immediate rematch at UFC 316 in June, where Dvalishvili submitted him.
O’Malley called Yan’s performance “one of the most impressive performances I’ve ever seen” on his YouTube channel. His commentary reflected his firsthand knowledge of both fighters’ abilities.
O’Malley is scheduled to face Song Yadong at UFC 324 in January. The matchup represents a pivotal moment in his attempt to return to championship contention. The bout could determine his path back to a title shot in the division.
