UFC 323 capped off 2025 in spectacular fashion, turning out to be one of the year’s absolute standout cards with a day full of thrilling and unpredictable moments at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Petr Yan exacted revenge on Merab Dvalishvili with a dominant unanimous decision win to reclaim the bantamweight title, while Joshua Van claimed the flyweight strap when an injury forced Alexandre Pantoja out just seconds into their bout.
The prelims were nothing short of explosive, delivering a string of vicious knockouts, capped by a late Fight of the Year contender between Iwo Baraniewski and Ibo Aslan.
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The main card kicked off with an extremely rare majority draw, then saw double Olympic gold medalist and former two-division champ Henry Cejudo hang up the gloves for good after a gritty defeat to Payton Talbott.
PETR YAN IS BACK
Petr Yan walked out of UFC 323 looking like the biggest winner of the card – and not just because his hand was raised. He delivered the kind of masterclass that reminds everyone why he was once considered the most complete bantamweight on the planet.
Yan fought with urgency and venom, mixing his trademark boxing with nasty body work and ironclad takedown defense.
In a division packed with highlight machines, Yan looked like the most polished fighter of the lot. It wasn’t just a win for the Russian – it was a reset button on his entire career.
With the victory, he reclaims the bantamweight throne and ends Dvalishvili’s remarkable 14-fight win streak. It’s hard to believe that just a couple of years ago he was reeling from three consecutive losses and facing big questions about his future in the sport.
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WILL HE GIVE MERAB A REMATCH?
Going into the fight, Dvalishvili had racked up three successful title defenses and was regarded by many as the greatest bantamweight ever. Naturally, most anticipate an immediate rematch for “The Machine,” but the newly crowned champ isn’t sold on the idea.
“I think Merab should really just get into the Jacuzzi, think about it, and then we’ll see,” Yan replied when asked about a rematch.
“… You saw the fight of Merab vs. Umar [Nurmagomedov]. You saw the way that fight went. So, who’s more dangerous? They can rematch, and then we can see what happens.”
“Understand the fact that for me to get the opportunity to fight for the belt again, the UFC made me go three more fights before I was able to get to the contender position again.”
In the end, though, Yan appears ready to defend his new strap against anyone the UFC lines up next.
“I don’t care. I flew 30 hours to get here,” Yan said. “I don’t care. Put me in Alaska, anywhere. Twelve-hour time difference, completely different climates, continents, just tell me where, that’s it. Give me location.”
WHAT’S NEXT FOR ALEXANDRE PANTOJA?
Pantoja’s championship run came to an abrupt end on Sunday, with the flyweight king suffering a shocking arm injury just 26 seconds into his title defense against rising star Joshua Van.
The bout ended almost as soon as it began. After Pantoja threw an early high kick, Van caught the leg and drove him to the canvas. As the champ posted his right arm to break the fall, it bent awkwardly underneath him.
Pantoja immediately winced in pain, and referee Herb Dean stepped in without hesitation. Van was awarded a TKO victory and the UFC flyweight championship in one of the shortest title fights in history.
Following the fight, Pantoja released a statement about his injury.
“I’ve been through worse,” Pantoja said. “I’ll come back even stronger, you can be sure of that. Thank you for the messages.”
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On Sunday night, UFC officials provided a medical update on Pantoja, though the announcement left some lingering confusion about the exact nature of his injury.
“I spoke to the UFC’s chief medical physician Dr. Jeff Davidson,” Megan Olivi reported. “He told me Pantoja had a left shoulder dislocation with spontaneous reduction. What that essentially means is his shoulder was dislocated but went back into place on its own.
“On Monday in Florida, he will go for additional imaging to see the extent of the damage or if there is other damage that has been incurred and then he will meet with an orthopedic doctor as well.”
Regardless of the exact diagnosis, Pantoja looks to be sidelined for the foreseeable future. Once he’s fully recovered, he’ll almost certainly slide straight back into a title fight, though the timing will hinge on how long the injury keeps him out of action.
Van copped some flack online for celebrating his bizarre victory, but he really has no reason to apologise. He did everything necessary to earn his title shot and could never have predicted how it would finish.
However, to be considered the best in his division he will have to prove it and defend his crown in the near future.
OTHER STANDOUT PERFORMANCES FROM UFC 323
Maycee Barber made a triumphant return at UFC 323, snapping a 21-month layoff caused by severe health issues that landed her in the hospital multiple times.
After notching up six straight wins to establish herself as a top flyweight contender, Barber came back and weathered an illegal upkick before dominating Karine Silva over three rounds.
Even after the long layoff, beating Silva was a massive statement that “The Future” remains one of the best flyweights on the planet and belongs in the conversation for the next crack at the division’s best.
Payton Talbott is becoming a serious headache for the bantamweight division. The Dana White Contender Series alum dominated former two-division champ Cejudo on the scorecards, displaying serious credentials and showing improvement.
Talbott is ascending fast, and his proven toughness and drive this year suggest he’s only going to keep climbing toward the top of the division.
SAVIOUR OF THE DIVISION SAYS GOODBYE
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Henry Cejudo never won over the crowds, but the MMA world showed genuine respect when he made the walk for the last time on Sunday afternoon.
A few months shy of his 39th birthday, the former champ was outgunned by 27-year-old Payton Talbott who left Cejudo battered and bloody.
Still, Cejudo emptied the tank in an all-out war and didn’t stop swinging for the finish until the final bell.
Back in 2018 when Demetrious Johnson left the UFC and the division was rumored to be on the chopping block, Cejudo’s upset win over then-bantamweight champ T.J. Dillashaw became a pivotal moment.
Cejudo not only defended the title in spectacular fashion, but also campaigned for the division’s survival.
Many fans and analysts believe that without Cejudo’s championship run, the flyweight division might not exist today.