UFC 323: Petr Yan Reclaims Bantamweight Title After Five-Year Wait in 2025’s Best Fight

A Triumphant Return

Petr Yan is once again the UFC bantamweight champion.
The Russian star defeated Merab Dvalishvili in a thrilling title fight at UFC 323 on Sunday, December 7, 2025, marking the end of a long five-year climb back to the top.

A Fall From the Throne

Yan first claimed the bantamweight belt in July 2020 with a TKO victory over Jose Aldo.
His reign ended abruptly in March 2021 when he lost the title to Aljamain Sterling due to an illegal knee.
Their rematch in April 2022 brought more heartbreak, with Yan losing a close split decision.
He then suffered additional defeats to Sean O’Malley and Dvalishvili, falling into a three-fight skid that stalled his career.

The Road Back

Yan slowly rebuilt his momentum.
Wins over Song Yadong, Deiveson Figueiredo, and Marcus McGhee restored his confidence and positioned him for another title shot at UFC 323.

Masterful Performance Against Dvalishvili

Dvalishvili entered the fight with strong momentum and high expectations.
Fans still remembered his 11 successful takedowns in their first meeting — a UFC record.

This time, Yan delivered a tactical masterclass.
He stuffed 27 of Merab’s 29 takedown attempts and scored three takedowns of his own.
Yan’s sharp boxing cut Merab’s face open, while heavy body kicks wore him down.
Across five high-paced rounds, Yan controlled the action and secured a unanimous decision victory: 49-46, 49-46, and 48-47.

Post-Fight Reactions

“I’m so happy to stand here again with the belt,” Yan said, thanking fans at T-Mobile Arena.
“I worked hard for this. This moment means everything to me.”

Dvalishvili acknowledged the loss with grace.
“He was better tonight. Congratulations to him,” he said, while expressing interest in a trilogy bout.

Unexpected Twist in the Flyweight Title Fight

Earlier in the night, the flyweight title fight ended in shocking fashion.
Champion Alexandre Pantoja suffered a TKO loss only 26 seconds into the bout.
Joshua Van caught a high kick, causing Pantoja to lose balance and fall awkwardly, appearing to injure his arm as he hit the mat.

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