Yan Recaptures Bantamweight Title in Shocking Upset
Petr Yan got his revenge and recaptured the bantamweight title Saturday night, claiming a unanimous decision victory over Merab Dvalishvili in their rematch at UFC 323. The Russian fighter delivered one of the year’s most stunning upsets, dominating from start to finish at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
With punishing strikes and several crushing kicks to the rib cage, Yan (20-5) ended Dvalishvili’s 14-match winning streak. In a seismic result few saw coming, Yan dominated from pillar to post for a decision that wasn’t nearly as close as the scorecards indicated (49-46, 49-46, 48-47) to become a two-time UFC bantamweight champion.
Joshua Van Becomes New Flyweight Champion
The night’s co-main event ended in controversial fashion when 24-year-old Joshua Van claimed the UFC flyweight title after Alexandre Pantoja suffered a gruesome freak injury to his arm just 26 seconds into the opening round. In doing so, Van became the second-youngest champion in UFC history, behind only Jon Jones.
In what appeared to be a freak accident, Pantoja (30-6) injured his left shoulder just after throwing a right roundkick to Van’s head. But as Van (16-2) blocked the kick, Pantoja used his left arm to brace his fall. The injury was immediately apparent, forcing the referee to stop the contest.
Significance for the UFC
A wild night at UFC 323 ended with two new champions crowned, a legend’s retirement and a brutal injury. Yan’s victory is particularly significant as Yan exacted revenge for his last loss when Dvalishvili defeated the 32-year-old by unanimous decision on a UFC Fight Night card on March 11, 2023.
The Georgian had already defended his UFC title three times in 2025, kicking off January with a hard-fought decision over Umar Nurmagomedov, following it up by choking out Sean O’Malley in June, then dominating Cory Sandhagen in October. His loss now opens up the bantamweight division for fresh matchups, whilst Van’s unexpected title win creates an interesting dynamic in the flyweight division moving forward.
These dramatic title changes at UFC 323 will undoubtedly shape the landscape of both divisions as the promotion heads into 2026, with rematches and new challengers already being discussed by fans and fighters alike.
