Petr Yan Reclaims UFC Bantamweight Title from Dvalishvili

Petr Yan reclaimed the UFC bantamweight championship with a unanimous decision victory over Merab Dvalishvili in their rematch at UFC 323 on Saturday night, ending the Georgian fighter's dominant 14-fight winning streak and his bid to become the first champion to defend the title four times in a calendar year.

The five-round bout saw Yan, 32, outstrike and outwrestle Dvalishvili, 34, over 25 minutes. Judges scored it 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47 in Yan's favor, with the Russian landing heavier shots and causing a bloody nose for Dvalishvili early on. Dvalishvili controlled the first round with pressure but faded as Yan took over from the second, mixing takedowns with precise striking. The win avenged Yan's loss to Dvalishvili in March 2023 and marked his return to the top after a three-fight skid that had sidelined him from title contention.

Several factors contributed to Dvalishvili's uncharacteristic performance. The co-main event, a flyweight title fight between Alexandre Pantoja and Joshua Van, ended abruptly after just 26 seconds when Pantoja dislocated his shoulder. This forced Dvalishvili's team to accelerate their preparations, limiting his warm-up time. Dvalishvili's training...