Petr Yan Vs Merab Dvalishvili, UFC 323: Russian Stuns Georgian To Avenge 2023 Defeat In Las Vegas

Petr Yan stunned Merab Dvalishvili with a dominating effort to capture the bantamweight championship by unanimous decision at UFC 323 on Saturday night. With punishing strikes and several crushing kicks to the rib cage, Yan (20-5) ended Dvalishvili’s 14-match winning streak. Dvalishvili (21-5) hadn’t lost since April 21, 2018, when Ricky Simon won by submission. It was his fourth title match of 2025. 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. Dvalishvili, 34, closed a -425 favorite, which meant a bettor laid $425 to $100 at BetMGM. Anyone wagering $100 on Yan would have won $320.

Updated on: 7 December 2025 4:35 pm

Petr Yan celebrates with a member of his team after defeating UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili during UFC 323 in Las Vegas. | Photo: Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP

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Petr Yan gestures to fans after going five rounds against UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili during UFC 323 in Las Vegas. | Photo: Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP

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Former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili intracts with fans after losing his title to Petr Yan during UFC 323 in Las Vegas. | Photo: Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP

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Petr Yan, left, punches UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili during UFC 323 in Las Vegas. | Photo: Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP

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Petr Yan, right, battles with UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili during the UFC 323 match in Las Vegas. | Photo: Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP

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Merab Dvalishvili Petr Yan, Mixed Martial Arts

UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, left, fights against Petr Yan during the UFC 323 match in Las Vegas. | Photo: Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP

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