NO MERCY: Petr Yan Shocks the World to Reclaim Bantamweight Title
LAS VEGAS — The “Machine” has been unplugged.
In a massive upset at UFC 323, Petr Yan proved the doubters wrong by defeating Merab Dvalishvili via Unanimous Decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47). With this win, Petr Yan becomes a two-time Bantamweight Champion and snaps Merab Dvalishvili’s legendary 14-fight winning streak.
How the Fight Was Won
Most fans expected Merab Dvalishvili to dominate with his wrestling, but Petr Yan had other plans:
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Ironclad Defense: Petr Yan stopped 22 of 24 takedown attempts, forcing the fight to stay standing.
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The Liver Shot: In the 3rd round, Petr Yan landed a brutal body kick that visibly hurt Merab Dvalishvili and drained his gas tank.
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Precision Power: Petr Yan landed the cleaner, harder strikes, leaving the champion bloodied by the final bell.
“I am the best in the world. I learned from my mistakes, and now the belt is home,” said Petr Yan.
Chaos in the Co-Main: A New Era
The night saw another title change in the Flyweight division, though it ended in heartbreak for the legend.
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Joshua Van is the new champion after Alexandre Pantoja suffered a gruesome shoulder/arm injury just 26 seconds into the first round.
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Joshua Van makes history as the first-ever UFC champion born in the 2000s (and the first Burmese-born champion).
UFC 323 Quick Results
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Petr Yan def. Merab Dvalishvili (UD) — NEW Bantamweight Champ
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Joshua Van def. Alexandre Pantoja (TKO) — NEW Flyweight Champ
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Tatsuro Taira def. Brandon Moreno (TKO)
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Payton Talbott def. Henry Cejudo (UD) — Henry Cejudo announces retirement.
What’s Next?
With Petr Yan back on top, the Bantamweight division is on fire. Fans are already calling for a rematch with Sean O’Malley or a high-stakes title defense against the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov.
