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Watch fighters from #UFC323 answer questions from the media inside the UFC APEX in Las Vegas.
The lineup includes:
• Merab Dvalishvili– UFC bantamweight champion
• Petr Yan – No. 3 UFC bantamweight
• Alexandre Pantoja – UFC flyweight champion
• Joshua Van – No. 1 UFC flyweight
• Brandon Moreno – No. 2 UFC flyweight
• Tatsuro Taira – No. 5 UFC flyweight
• Henry Cejudo – No. 10 UFC bantamweight
• Payton Talbott – UFC bantamweight
• Jan Blachowicz – No. 5 UFC light heavyweight
• Bogdan Guskov – No. 11 UFC light heavyweight
• Grant Dawson– No. 13 UFC lightweight
• Manuel Torres– UFC lightweight
• Terrance McKinney – UFC lightweight
• Chris Duncan – UFC lightweight
Merab Dvalishvili
Known as “The Machine”, Merab built his reputation on relentless pressure, unmatched cardio, and a grappling-heavy game that overwhelms opponents. A product of the Serra-Longo Fight Team, he exemplifies toughness, grit, and a team-first mentality. Before meeting Yan, Merab held the record for most takedowns in a single UFC fight and was riding an impressive win streak highlighted by victories over Jose Aldo and Marlon Moraes. His path to a title shot seemed inevitable, but he had long refused to fight his teammate and champion Aljamain Sterling, keeping him just outside championship contention. Petr Yan
Yan entered the UFC as one of the most technically sound strikers in the sport. A master of footwork, pressure boxing, and defensive responsibility, he quickly rose up the ranks and captured the bantamweight title. His championship reign and subsequent bouts—including razor-close fights with Aljamain Sterling and Sean O’Malley—cemented him as one of the most feared competitors in the division. Yan is a fighter who thrives on precision, timing, and late-round dominance, historically turning up the pressure as fights progress. Stylistic Matchup
The matchup was fascinating because both fighters thrive on pressure—but in completely different ways.
On paper, it resembled an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object: Merab’s cardio-powered wrestling versus Yan’s elite takedown defense and world-class striking. The Fight: Round-by-Round Breakdown
Round 1
From the opening bell, Merab wasted no time imposing his strategy. He surged forward with feints, level changes, and clinch attempts, never allowing Yan to settle into his preferred rhythm. Even when takedowns were defended, Merab kept Yan pinned against the cage or forced him to disengage. Yan’s crisp boxing showed in moments, but Merab’s volume and pressure made it difficult for the former champion to plant his feet. Round 2
Merab increased his tempo—something few believed was possible. He continued chaining takedown attempts, mixing them with kicks and long-range strikes that kept Yan guessing. Yan landed some clean counters, but they came infrequently. The story of the round was Merab’s ability to maintain a pace that even elite wrestlers struggle to match. Round 3
Yan traditionally turns up the pressure in the later rounds, but Merab neutralized this by never letting the Russian get set. The Georgian wrestler’s cardio shone as he began to land more strikes, surprising many who saw him strictly as a grappler. Yan defended admirably but was visibly frustrated by the constant barrage of attacks. Round 4
At this stage, Yan began to show signs of fatigue. His defensive reactions slowed, and his counter timing diminished. Merab, as if fueled by endless reserves, accelerated once again—shooting takedowns, forcing scrambles, and locking Yan in clinches. Even when unsuccessful, each attempt drained Yan further. Merab’s striking volume reached its highest point of the fight, demonstrating how far he had evolved beyond being “just a wrestler.” Round 5
The final round cemented the narrative: Merab Dvalishvili had executed a game plan that few fighters in the bantamweight division—if any—could withstand. With Yan slowed, Merab mixed in clean punches, level changes, and cage control to close the fight dominantly. By the final bell, the accumulation of pressure told the entire story: Merab had outworked, outpaced, and outlasted one of the toughest fighters in the sport. Key Factors in Merab’s Victory
The lineup includes:
• Merab Dvalishvili– UFC bantamweight champion
• Petr Yan – No. 3 UFC bantamweight
• Alexandre Pantoja – UFC flyweight champion
• Joshua Van – No. 1 UFC flyweight
• Brandon Moreno – No. 2 UFC flyweight
• Tatsuro Taira – No. 5 UFC flyweight
• Henry Cejudo – No. 10 UFC bantamweight
• Payton Talbott – UFC bantamweight
• Jan Blachowicz – No. 5 UFC light heavyweight
• Bogdan Guskov – No. 11 UFC light heavyweight
• Grant Dawson– No. 13 UFC lightweight
• Manuel Torres– UFC lightweight
• Terrance McKinney – UFC lightweight
• Chris Duncan – UFC lightweight
Merab Dvalishvili
Known as “The Machine”, Merab built his reputation on relentless pressure, unmatched cardio, and a grappling-heavy game that overwhelms opponents. A product of the Serra-Longo Fight Team, he exemplifies toughness, grit, and a team-first mentality. Before meeting Yan, Merab held the record for most takedowns in a single UFC fight and was riding an impressive win streak highlighted by victories over Jose Aldo and Marlon Moraes. His path to a title shot seemed inevitable, but he had long refused to fight his teammate and champion Aljamain Sterling, keeping him just outside championship contention. Petr Yan
Yan entered the UFC as one of the most technically sound strikers in the sport. A master of footwork, pressure boxing, and defensive responsibility, he quickly rose up the ranks and captured the bantamweight title. His championship reign and subsequent bouts—including razor-close fights with Aljamain Sterling and Sean O’Malley—cemented him as one of the most feared competitors in the division. Yan is a fighter who thrives on precision, timing, and late-round dominance, historically turning up the pressure as fights progress. Stylistic Matchup
The matchup was fascinating because both fighters thrive on pressure—but in completely different ways.
- Merab’s pressure comes through constant movement, chain wrestling, and never giving the opponent space to breathe. His pace often forces fighters into mistakes.
- Yan’s pressure is measured, technical, and based on reading patterns. He walks opponents down not through chaos, but through control.
On paper, it resembled an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object: Merab’s cardio-powered wrestling versus Yan’s elite takedown defense and world-class striking. The Fight: Round-by-Round Breakdown
Round 1
From the opening bell, Merab wasted no time imposing his strategy. He surged forward with feints, level changes, and clinch attempts, never allowing Yan to settle into his preferred rhythm. Even when takedowns were defended, Merab kept Yan pinned against the cage or forced him to disengage. Yan’s crisp boxing showed in moments, but Merab’s volume and pressure made it difficult for the former champion to plant his feet. Round 2
Merab increased his tempo—something few believed was possible. He continued chaining takedown attempts, mixing them with kicks and long-range strikes that kept Yan guessing. Yan landed some clean counters, but they came infrequently. The story of the round was Merab’s ability to maintain a pace that even elite wrestlers struggle to match. Round 3
Yan traditionally turns up the pressure in the later rounds, but Merab neutralized this by never letting the Russian get set. The Georgian wrestler’s cardio shone as he began to land more strikes, surprising many who saw him strictly as a grappler. Yan defended admirably but was visibly frustrated by the constant barrage of attacks. Round 4
At this stage, Yan began to show signs of fatigue. His defensive reactions slowed, and his counter timing diminished. Merab, as if fueled by endless reserves, accelerated once again—shooting takedowns, forcing scrambles, and locking Yan in clinches. Even when unsuccessful, each attempt drained Yan further. Merab’s striking volume reached its highest point of the fight, demonstrating how far he had evolved beyond being “just a wrestler.” Round 5
The final round cemented the narrative: Merab Dvalishvili had executed a game plan that few fighters in the bantamweight division—if any—could withstand. With Yan slowed, Merab mixed in clean punches, level changes, and cage control to close the fight dominantly. By the final bell, the accumulation of pressure told the entire story: Merab had outworked, outpaced, and outlasted one of the toughest fighters in the sport. Key Factors in Merab’s Victory
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