Petr Yan vs Merab Dvalishvili 2 Full Fight – UFC 323

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Published on July 1, 2026 by administrator

The rematch between Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 323 was everything fans expected: a fast-paced, tactical, and brutally competitive five-round championship battle. Two years after Dvalishvili overwhelmed Yan with relentless wrestling, Yan entered with a refined game plan, determined to reclaim the UFC bantamweight title. In a closely contested fight, Yan earned a unanimous decision to become champion once again.

Round 1

The opening minutes were tense. Yan immediately took the center of the Octagon, firing sharp jabs and calf kicks while refusing to give Merab easy entries. Dvalishvili began his trademark pressure, constantly switching stances and feinting level changes. His first takedown attempt was stuffed effortlessly by Yan, who punished the failed shot with a hard right hand and a left hook to the body.

Merab responded by increasing his output, throwing combinations simply to force Yan backward before diving at his legs. Although he briefly pushed Yan against the fence, Yan escaped quickly and landed crisp boxing combinations as they separated. The cleaner striking belonged to Yan, while Merab’s nonstop movement prevented him from building sustained offense.

Round 2

Merab dramatically increased his pace. He chained together takedown attempts, clinch work, and endless pressure, making Yan fight every second. Several shots forced Yan to defend rather than counter, but the former champion’s balance proved exceptional.

Yan repeatedly punished Merab’s entries with perfectly timed uppercuts and knees. Midway through the round Merab finally secured a takedown, but Yan immediately scrambled back to his feet before any meaningful control was established. Every exchange became a battle between Merab’s volume and Yan’s precision.

Late in the round Yan landed his biggest strike so far-a perfectly timed counter right that snapped Merab’s head backward and briefly halted his relentless advance.

Round 3

The championship fight reached its highest technical level. Merab continued attempting takedowns from every angle, mixing body locks with single-leg attacks while throwing punches in bunches. Yan remained remarkably composed, defending almost everything and forcing Merab to expend tremendous energy.

Whenever Merab exited the clinch, Yan punished him with combinations to the head and body. His boxing looked sharper with every passing minute, while Merab relied increasingly on volume and pressure rather than successful wrestling.

One scramble nearly changed the fight when Merab briefly gained Yan’s back standing against the cage, but Yan calmly peeled the hands away and escaped without allowing any damage.

Round 4

With the fight potentially tied, both men elevated their intensity.

Merab charged forward relentlessly, but Yan’s confidence was obvious. He intercepted takedown attempts with excellent footwork and landed several clean counters that left visible swelling around Merab’s face. Every successful defense drew cheers from the crowd.

Merab never stopped attacking, throwing over one hundred strikes while constantly changing levels, but Yan answered with the more damaging offense. A beautiful three-punch combination followed by a hard body kick became one of the defining moments of the fight.

Late in the round Yan even surprised everyone by completing a takedown of his own after timing one of Merab’s entries perfectly.

Round 5

Knowing the title was on the line, Merab fought with incredible urgency. He pressed forward nonstop, attempting multiple takedowns and forcing Yan into exhausting scrambles along the fence.

Yan refused to wilt. His defensive wrestling remained outstanding despite twenty minutes of constant pressure. Every time Merab closed distance, Yan answered with clean jabs, powerful hooks, and precise counters. In the final minute Yan secured another takedown, ending the fight on top after surviving one last scramble.

The closing horn brought both fighters to their feet, embracing after twenty-five grueling minutes that showcased two of the world’s best bantamweights.

Official Result

Petr Yan defeated Merab Dvalishvili by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47) to regain the UFC Bantamweight Championship. Yan’s disciplined takedown defense, cleaner boxing, and more damaging strikes outweighed Dvalishvili’s relentless pace and pressure. The bout earned widespread praise as one of the year’s best bantamweight fights and left the rivalry tied at one victory apiece, setting the stage for a potential trilogy.

 

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