Merab Dvalishvili was looking to make history at UFC 323, taking on Petr Yan for the second time, in the bantamweight champ’s fourth title defense of 2025.
No UFC champion had ever defended their title four times in a single year. But Dvalishvili, on a fourteen fight win streak, was very much living up to his nickname of “The Machine.”
Former champ Yan, meanwhile, was looking to avenge a prior decision loss to Georgia’s Dvalishvili.
The night had already seen one title change hands, albeit off an injury. Might there be a second?
Petr Yan looked to press early, backing the champ up against the fence. Dvalishvili, however, pressed back, letting his hands go. A right hand threatened, and a left trailed it, connecting, though there wasn’t much on it. Yan was able to cover up and roll with several of Dvalishvili’s attacks, and found success with his jab. A very even fight through the first two and a half minutes; Yan seemed to rock Merab just past the halfway point. That led to Merab going after a takedown, and while a trip didn’t land, Merab stayed on it.
Yan showed some solid takedown defense, and eventually broke free of a body lock. After an exchange of jabs, however, Dvalisvili took the fight right back to the fence, forcing Yan to defend again.
Dvalishvili landed a right hand to start round two, then punched his way into a takedown attempt. Yan, again, showed stupendous takedown defense, at one point displaying his balance and staying upright on one leg. Yan, meanwhile, connected with his jab. Then, Yan flipped the script, changed levels, and landed his own takedown. Not a good idea in the end, as Merab scrambled and reversed. Yan tried to do the same, and took the fight back to the fence. Merab would spend time with a body lock, but again couldn’t get Yan down; the Russian instead reversed. They’d battle it out at the end of the round, exchanging blows.
Yan opened round three with a low kick, keeping the champ guessing. Dvalishvili, meanwhile, had absorbed considerable damage to his nose in the earlier rounds and was bloodied. Merab landed a right, but Yan went after a takedown and wound up slamming Dvalishvili! Merab survived, got up, lifted Yan, and tried to slam him but more dumped him on his side. Yan scrambled right back to his feet; Dvalishvili dragged the challenger down again. This time, when Yan fought off a takedown, Dvalishvili kneed the body. Another shot followed.
Another shot by the champ saw Yan sprawling. He appeared to have slowed a step however. Dvalishvili not so much. They traded knees in the clinch. A body kick at the end of the round landed with a crack, and backed Merab up. Yan went in on a takedown, but couldn’t land it.
The championship rounds had Dvalishvili looking the fresher fighter, despite the damage to his face and the nasty body kick to end round three. Merab went after yet another takedown, but Yan reversed. Dvalishvili defensed a takedown with a guillotine, and after something of a struggle, Yan was able to pull free. Merab was back up however, and landing a punch in the clinch while absorbing a knee. Petr Yan’s takedown defense continued to be the story in round four. Despite Dvalishvili stringing together takedown attempt after takedown attempt, Yan rarely went down, and refused to stay down. With two minutes on the clock, Yan appeared to hurt Merab again, and dug the body. He’d target it again with a kick. A left to the body staggered Dvalishvili, but he then surged forward.
Feeling himself, Yan broke out a spinning back fist in the final minute. He headed to round five almost certainly up on the scorecards.
Petr Yan fired a pair of side kicks to the leg to start the final frame. Yan would also target the body again, with a hook this time. His hands had not failed him, nor had his takedown defense. The champ was bloodied and three minutes away from losing his title. With two minutes to go, it was Yan in on a takedown, fought off ultimately. Dvalishvili then considered a guillotine, didn’t have it, and was taken down, albeit he was immediately back to his feet. Yet another body kick landed for Yan, with Dvalishvili noticeably pained.
There was no Hail Mary for Merab Dvalishvili; instead, Petr Yan landed one final takedown of his own. Unquestionably the best anyone had looked against Merab in years, and enough to reclaim the UFC bantamweight title.
Official Result: Petr Yan def. Merab Dvalishvili by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47)
