Merab Dvalishvili headlines UFC 323 with Petr Yan rematch

UFC announced on Monday that bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili will headline UFC 323 on Dec. 6 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, setting up a rematch with former champion Petr Yan and giving Dvalishvili a chance to make a fourth title defense in a single calendar year. UFC chief executive Dana White disclosed the main event during an online announcement; the card’s co-main will see flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja defend against rising contender Joshua Van.

Dvalishvili, 34, comes into the bout on a 14-fight winning streak and fresh off a unanimous decision victory over Cory Sandhagen on Oct. 4 at UFC 320. That win marked his third successful title defense of 2025, following defenses against Umar Nurmagomedov in January and a June rematch submission of Sean O’Malley after capturing the belt from O’Malley in September 2024. If he defeats Yan, Dvalishvili would become the first fighter in UFC history to record four title defenses in a single calendar year.

The champion reacted with visible surprise and enthusiasm when the matchup was announced during an in-studio interview, saying he had not been told the fight was finalized. "I had no idea," Dvalishvili said during the...