Petr Yan Reclaims Bantamweight Title in Thrilling UFC 323 Rematch

In a highly anticipated rematch at UFC 323 in Las Vegas, Petr Yan reclaimed the bantamweight title by defeating Merab Dvalishvili via unanimous decision. The judges scored the bout 49-46, 49-46, and 48-47 in favor of Yan. This was the promotion's last major UFC card before starting its TV deal with Paramount+ in 2026.

 

Yan's victory showcased his strategic adjustments since their previous encounter in 2023, where Dvalishvili dominated with relentless takedowns and striking volume. This time, Yan effectively neutralized Dvalishvili's wrestling, securing five takedowns of his own and landing 139 significant strikes compared to Dvalishvili's 134.

 

The co-main event saw a dramatic turn of events as Joshua Van became the new flyweight champion. Defending champion Alexandre Pantoja suffered a severe left elbow injury just 26 seconds into the first round, leading to an immediate stoppage and crowning Van as the new titleholder.

 

In other notable bouts, Tatsuro Taira secured a TKO victory over Brandon Moreno in the second round, and rising star Payton Talbott earned a unanimous decision win against veteran Henry Cejudo.

 

UFC 323 delivered an evening of intense competition and unexpected outcomes, solidifying Las Vegas's reputation as a premier destination for MMA events.