UFC 323 recap - Petr Yan wins bantamweight title from Merab Dvalishvili, Alexandre Pantoja loses flyweight crown to Joshua Van after arm dislocation

UFC 323 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night saw two world titles up for grabs - and both of them changed hands. UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili defended his belt against challenger Petr Yan, who shocked most tipsters by taking the title. Before that, Alexandre Pantoja cruelly lost his crown, injuring his arm against Joshua Van.

Highlights: Yan takes the victory over Dvalishvili in title fight

Video credit: TNT Sports

Two new champions are crowned!

Petr Yan produced a fantastic display to avenge a previous loss to Merab Dvalishvili and win the UFC bantamweight title for the second time.

Learning from his previous defeat to Dvalishvili in March 2023, Yan managed to block nearly all the champion's takedown attempts and got the better of the stand-up, landing brutal kicks and hooks to the body which clearly had an effect.

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Although Dvalishvili landed a similar amount of punches to the head, they did far less damage, with Yan busting his opponent's nose in the opener and stinging him on numerous occasions thereafter.

Yan ended up winning the contest on all three judges' scorecards 49-46 (twice) and 38-47.

Afterwards, Dvalishvili said he hopes for a third contest between the two.

The co-main event was brief and freakish as champion Alexandre Pantoja lost his flyweight crown to Joshua Van as an arm injury left him unable to continue.

Pantoja missed with a head kick and after Van tipped his opponent towards the mat, the Brazilian stretched out his left arm to break his fall, leading it to bend the wrong way on contact with the floor. He immediately signalled he could not continue.

Tatsuro Taira may be the next challenger to Van after the Japanese won by TKO against Brandon Moreno in the second round of their bout.

Scotland's Chris Duncan secured a fantastic victory over Terrance McKinney, submitting the American in the first round.

In the highlight-reel moment of the card, Manuel Torres defeated Grant Dawson with a brutal first-round knockout.

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Yan is the new champion!

He is awarded the fight 49-46 (twice) and 48-47 on the three judges' scorecards.

Dvalishvili-Yan: Round 5

Yan lands with a left hook to the body and then a couple upstairs as Dvalishvili is forced backwards. The challenger also lands with a kick to the head. Dvalishvili keeps trying but cannot break his opponent's defence. Another takedown is attempted but Yan blocks it. It is Yan who eventually takes Dvalishvili down and gets his back briefly. As the fight back goes back to stand up, once more a kick to the body hits the target. Yan produces another takedown on the buzzer to surely rubber-stamp victory.

Dvalishvili-Yan: Round 4

Yan tries a takedown but Dvalishvili locks in a guillotine and for a moment it looks perilous before the challenger breaks loose. As the round goes on, Yan gets in control, using leg kicks to open up angles for his strikes to hit home. A left hook to the body sees Dvalishvili wince. Though the champ keeps throwing, his blows are having much less effect. You have to think Dvalishvili needs a submission in the last to keep his title.

Dvalishvili-Yan: Round 3

After taking early shots, Dvalishvili finally lifts up Yan and showboats to the crowd before slamming him to the mat. But he can't keep him down for long. Dvalishvili lands a lot more shots but in the closing stages, Yan lands with a nasty kick to the solar plexus which visibly hurts the champion. He follows up with a couple of good strikes too. It probably is Dvalishvili's round though.

Dvalishvili-Yan: Round 2

Yan again avoids an early takedown and lands a couple of big shots, a left hook and uppercut. Yan surprises Dvalishvili taking him down but could not keep his opponent on the deck for long. Dvalishvili lands with some good shots in close as Yan puts all his effort into staying on his feet.

Dvalishvili-Yan: Round 1

Yan with the best of things in the early stand up and he hurt Dvalishvili with a right hand which opens up a cut on his nose. The champion then looked to takedown his opponent but Yan's defence was strong. Dvalishvili had control in a clinch standing up but it probably isn't enough to take the round.

Main event is next....

Merab Dvalishvili (21-4) looks to make his fourth defence of the calendar year against Petr Yan (19-5).

Van happy to fight Taira next

We had two flyweight winners on the main card and Van is happy to take on the Japanese star if Pantoja does not recover in time for a quick rematch.

Mixed feelings for new champ

The second youngest champion in UFC history did not want to win the title in this way.

Van is the new champion!

What a crazy way to win the title. Pantoja attacked from the off and attempted a kick which missed. Van tipped him over and the champion put his arm out to stop his fall and his left arm twisted sickeningly the wrong way. Lying on the mat, he indicated he could not continue.

Flyweight title is on the line...

Our co-main event sees champion Alexandre Pantoja (30-5) take on Joshua Van (15-2).

Taira wants a title shot next

Taira stops Moreno in Round 2

Taira lands a good right hand and takes Moreno down to the mat. He then gets position on Moreno's back. Turning Moreno around he lands big bombs on the back of the Mexican's head with his face down on the mat and the referee stopped the fight. Moreno complains about the stoppage. Maybe he could have had more time but he was being punched flush continually without being able to provide any defence.

Moreno-Taira: Round 1

Taira impressive early but when he took Moreno down, the Mexican locked in a triangle and kept it until near the end of the round. Though it didn't seem to come close to making the Japanese fighter tap, it will be enough to give him the round.

Moreno-Taira next

Brandon Moreno (23-8-2) takes on Tatsuro Taira (17-1) in a battle between two top-six flyweights.

An ovation for the retiring legend

Talbott pays respect to Cejudo

Talbott wins on points

He takes the fight 30-27 on all three judges' scorecards.

Cejudo-Talbott: Round 3

Talbott takes Cejudo down early but thereafter the round is close as the pair grapple and the veteran briefly puts Talbott down with a single leg takedown. A high knee hurts Cejudo and a couple of follow up shots look like causing trouble but both fighters are weary by this stage. To the delight of the crowd both throw hands int he final ten seconds.

Cejudo-Talbott: Round 2

Talbutt lands a powerful right hook which rocks and puts down Cejudo but the veteran reverses things on the mat andhas control for a couple of minutes. Back on their feet in the second half of the round, Talbott took control landing numerous blows including a left hook which left Cejudo's face a crimson mess. A flurry of shots put down Cejudo briefly.

Cejudo-Talbott: Round 1

Cejudo stalks Talbott early landing kicks but being caught by straight shot coming in. Cejudo takes a little time for a low blow and after the resumption briefly takes his opponent down, but soon after Talbott has control on the floor. After a strong straight left, Talbott puts Cejudo down with a powerful spinebuster.

Cejudo-Talbott up next

Another crossroads fight as legendary former bantamweight and flyweight champion Henry Cejudo (16-5) takes on Payton Talbott (10-1).

A majority draw!

Blachowicz won on one card 29-28, with the other two 28-28 - as these judges gave Guskov the middle round 10-8.

Blachowicz-Guskov: Round 3

As the pair stand up, Guskov can't miss with his right hands, but Blachowicz somehow takes a succession of them. Guskov is affected by a right hand which cuts him over the eye and is running on fumes as the round wears on, moving backwards and looking not to engage. Blachowicz knocks down Guskov with a right hand in the closing stages and follows up with a barrage of blows. With another ten seconds might have had a stoppage.

Whether Guskov gets a 10-8 round for the second may be key in who wins the fight.

Blachowicz-Guskov: Round 2

Guskov puts Blachowicz to the ground with a big overhand right. He attempts to land ground and pound the veteran puts him in an ankle lock but cannot hold it. Guskov splits his opponent open on the forehead with three elbows with his opponent on his back. Blachoqwicz stays on his back for the rest of the round taking a lot of punishment. He then walked the wrong way to his corner.

Blachowicz-Guskov: Round 1

The fighters exchange jabs but Guskov's have the much greater effect, with even glancing blows having an effect. Blachowicz lands some good leg kicks. Guskov lands a good one-two late in the round, but you get the impression he could stop his opponent if he attacks more.

Blachowicz-Guskov up first

A crossroads fight as veteran Jan Blachowicz (29-11-1) takes on 'Hitman' Bogdan Guskov (18-3).

The Main Card is next

Torres KOs Dawson in Round 1

Torres was extremely patient in the early stages of the fight, keeping things at range, avoiding shots and landing jabs especially to the body. Then when the chance came, after a wild overhand right from Dawson, he responded with a right hand, left hook cum uppercut combination which saw the American fall to the floor - the referee then soon jumped in.

The final Prelim bout next

Grant Dawson (23-2) takes on Manuel Torres (16-3).

Duncan submits McKinney in Round 1

McKinney immediately lands a huge knee lift and head kick followed by big left hooks and uppercuts which have Duncan in serious trouble. Duncan then turns the table with a big elbow himself and then lands ground and pound which maybe should have seen the referee jump in, but the Scot then locks in an anaconda choke which sees McKinney tap. What a fight! And what a win for 'The Problem'.

McKinney-Duncan next

Terrance McKinney (17-7) takes on the Scottish 'Problem' Chris Duncan (14-2) in what promises to be a showstealer.

Barber wins on points

She takes a unanimous decision 30-27 and 29-28 (twice).

Barber-Silva: Round 3

The pair engage in stand up for the first 90 seconds and Barber gets the better of it, but Silva brings her opponent down with a double-leg takedown. Silva then goes for a heel lock and has Barber in trouble for a minute before the American takes the advantage again. Barber takes her opponent down in the final seconds which may be enough to clinch victory.

Barber-Silva: Round 2

The pair were locked in a clinch in the early stages but Barber brought her opponent to the mat. Silva gets warned for an upkick. The referee tells Barber it was a glancing blow but it looked flush on the chin. When they resume, Barber takes her opponent back to the mat, controlling her opponent for a couple of minutes and landing some brutal elbows. In a reverse of the first round, Silva reverses things in the closing stages and lands some blows herself. A fantastic fight.

Barber-Silva: Round 1

Silva takes Barber down and locks her in with a body triangle. She does not do a great deal of damage but retains control for nearly all the round. But in the final seconds, Barber turns things to her advantage and lands some vicious ground and pound, while taking a couple of upkicks from Silva.

Women's flyweight action next

This promises to be a great contest between Maycee Barber (14-2) and Karine Silva (19-5).

Ziam wins by TKO in Round 2

Such an impressive performance from Ziam, dominating standing up and in the clinches too. He takes Sadykhov down twice in the last 90 seconds with a hip lock then toss. He then gets Sadykhov's back on the mat. As Sadykhov looks to get up Ziam lands two brutal elbows then a number of strikes on his defenceless opponent and on the buzzer the referee waves the fight off.

Sadykhov-Ziam: Round 1

The crowd don't like it but a completely dominant floor game from Ziam. Getting Sadykov's back he controlled matters on the mat for four minutes and locking in a clinch with a butterfly leg lock for half of this.

Lightweights up first

Nazim Sadykhov (11-1) takes on Fares Ziam (17-4).

The final big card of 2025 is underway

We are live on TNT Sports 2 and discovery+.

British interest in prelims

Scot Chris Duncan has won three fights on the spin. His last fight against Mateusz Rebecki was awarded fight of the night and tonight's against Terrance McKinney could well steal the show as well.

Highlights: Duncan earns thrilling unanimous decision win over Rebecki

Video credit: TNT Sports

We go live at 1am

We will see the prelims very shortly. These are the fights we have in store before the main card:

Lightweight
Grant Dawson (23-2) v Manuel Torres (16-3)

Lightweight
Terrance McKinney (17-7) v Chris Duncan (14-2)

Women's Flyweight
Maycee Barber (14-2) v Karine Silva (19-5)

Lightweight
Nazim Sadykhov (11-1) v Fares Ziam (17-4)

What a card we have in store tonight

Dvalishvili in great company

Let's take a look back at Dvalishvili's 2025 so far

The best of Dvalishvili's three 2025 UFC Bantamweight title defences

Video credit: TNT Sports

Hello and welcome...

Welcome to live coverage of UFC 323, held at the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, United States.

Bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili headlines, making his title defence against Petr Yan in one of the most anticipated fights of the year.

The TNT Sports UFC team of Adam Catterall, Nick Peet and Michael Bisping will bring all the breaking news and reaction from Las Vegas throughout the evening, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

You can follow all the action and coverage here.

How to watch UFC 323 in the UK

UFC 323 is live on TNT Sports 2.

The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports and entertainment in one destination.

You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.

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