"Merab Dvalishvili was looking to make history at UFC 323, taking on Petr Yan for the second time, in the bantamweight champ's fourth title defense of 2025. No UFC champion had ever defended their title four times in a single year. But Dvalishvili, on a fourteen fight win streak, was very much living up to his nickname of "The Machine." Former champ Yan, meanwhile, was looking to avenge a prior decision loss to Georgia's Dvalishvili."
"Petr Yan looked to press early, backing the champ up against the fence. Dvalishvili, however, pressed back, letting his hands go. A right hand threatened, and a left trailed it, connecting, though there wasn't much on it. Yan was able to cover up and roll with several of Dvalishvili's attacks, and found success with his jab. A very even fight through the first two and a half minutes;"
Merab Dvalishvili pursued a historic fourth title defense in 2025 against former champion Petr Yan while riding a fourteen-fight win streak and nicknamed "The Machine." Petr Yan sought revenge for a prior decision loss to Dvalishvili. The event already featured one title change due to injury earlier in the night. In the opening rounds Yan pressed early and used his jab effectively, while Dvalishvili pressed back, mixed strikes with takedown attempts, and fought at the fence. Yan displayed strong takedown defense, balance, and occasional reversals, and both fighters exchanged strikes and grappling sequences through two rounds.
Read at Cageside Press
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