Merab falls one step short of history: Yan takes the crown

UFC 323, the final numbered event of the year, delivered total chaos. No one saw this coming: both champions were dethroned. Merab Dvalishvili fell short of the milestone he had targeted, becoming the first fighter in company history to defend the bantamweight title four times in a single year. Petr Yan exacted revenge in their rematch and steamrolled him by unanimous decision, stripping him of the belt. Alexandre Pantoja’s night ended even worse, suffering an elbow injury seconds into his fight with Joshua Van.

Yan came out fast, took the center of the cage and pressed forward, looking to trap the Georgian, who circled and began landing counters. Merab found success early, while Yan tried to slow him down with a stiff left jab. A clean shot from Yan sent Dvalishvili backward, prompting Merab to shoot in, grab the leg and drag him to the mat. He pinned Yan against the fence, blood dripping from a cut on his nose, while the Russian kept stuffing takedowns. Merab opened the second round full throttle, diving immediately for another takedown, but Yan denied him again. The Russian boxed beautifully, planting his left cleanly and keeping Merab off balance. This time Yan was the one who changed levels, only for Dvalishvili to take his back. The round turned into a battle for position, with hard shots traded. A right hand from Yan busted open Merab’s nose.

Merab stormed forward again and jumped on a guillotine, but Yan dumped him on his head to escape. The Georgian scrambled, trading knees in the clinch, and finally secured a takedown. He hoisted Yan onto his shoulder and slammed him to the canvas. Yan popped back up, only to be swept again. The fight became a bloodbath, and Yan kept piling up damage behind his lead left hand. A body kick from the Russian folded Dvalishvili, though he kept smiling through it. Merab’s cardio never faded, but Yan’s punches were landing with real danger as he grew stronger in the striking exchanges. In the final round, Merab emptied the gas tank. Yan’s hands found their target at will, the former champion’s face drenched in blood. As the seconds ticked down, Yan continued breaking him down and closed the show by beating him at his own game.

“I tried to give everything, but today I lost. He was the better fighter. Congratulations to him, but I want a rematch. It’s always very hard for me to make 135, but I won’t use that as an excuse. I tried to entertain the people here tonight. I didn’t want to just wrestle. I wanted to fight, to trade,” Merab said after the defeat, a stark contrast to Yan’s celebration.

Pantoja loses his title in the worst possible way

The flyweight title fight ended in disastrous fashion. Alexandre Pantoja entered his fifth defense against top-ranked Joshua Van in what was expected to add new energy to a division he had controlled with ease. Instead, a freak fall ended everything. The bout started at full speed, with both men trading, and seconds later Pantoja hit the mat and dislocated his left elbow.

The Brazilian posted his arm as he fell, and the elbow bent horrifically. “I didn’t know what was happening. He just stopped, and I could see in his eyes that something was wrong. He’s one of the best ever. I didn’t want it to happen like this,” Van said after the win. Pantoja was helped out of the cage as Dana White approached to comfort him: “You’ll be back. Get healthy.” With the victory, Van becomes the second-youngest champion in UFC history, five months older than Jon Jones at 23 years and eight months.

In the front row, Tatsuro Taira watched the injury in shock. The Japanese contender had just knocked out Brandon Moreno and now positions himself as the next title challenger. He was waiting to see whom he would have to beat to become champion. “Let’s go. Whoever they put in front of me, I’ll fight. I’m a man without fear,” Van said when shown Taira. It was a heartbreaking ending to a fight that had promised to be one of the division’s best.

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