Dvalishvili vs Yan Set to Headline UFC 323 with Pantoja vs Van as Exciting Co-Main Event

Merab Dvalishvili will headline UFC 323 in a highly anticipated bantamweight title fight against Petr Yan. This event will take place in December 2025 in Las Vegas. UFC President Dana White confirmed the matchup alongside the co-main event featuring flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja and contender Joshua Van.
Dvalishvili’s Title Defenses
Dvalishvili, the current bantamweight champion with a record of 21-4, has had an exceptional year. He claimed the title from Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 in September 2024. Dvalishvili has successfully defended his championship three times in 2025:
- Defeated Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 in January
- Rematched and beat O’Malley at UFC 316 in June
- Stifled Cory Sandhagen earlier this month
If Dvalishvili secures a victory over Yan, he will achieve a historic milestone: the first fighter in UFC history to defend a title four times within a single calendar year.
Yan’s Recent Performance
Petr Yan, with a record of 19-5, is not to be underestimated. The Russian fighter is currently on a three-fight winning streak, having triumphed over:
- Marcus McGhee
- Deiveson Figueiredo
- Yadong Song
Yan’s latest loss occurred against Dvalishvili at a UFC Fight Night in March 2023.
Co-Main Event: Pantoja vs. Van
The co-main event promises excitement with Alexandre Pantoja, the flyweight champion, defending his title against rising star Joshua Van. Pantoja holds a record of 30-5 and has successfully defended his title four times since winning it from Brandon Moreno at UFC 290 in July 2023.
Pantoja’s Recent Victories
Pantoja’s impressive performance includes:
- Submitting Kai Kara-France with a rear-naked choke at UFC 317
- Defeating Kai Asakura
- Winning against Brandon Royval
- Beating Steve Erceg
Joshua Van’s Rise
Joshua Van, with a record of 15-2, is the top contender in the flyweight division. He is coming off five consecutive wins, including a notable victory against Brandon Royval at UFC 317. Their matchup set a UFC record for the highest combined significant strikes in a three-round fight, with both fighters surpassing 200 significant strikes.
With a striking rate of 8.86 significant strikes landed per minute, Van has quickly emerged as one of MMA’s most exciting prospects. Since debuting in June 2023, he has a record of 8-1, with his sole loss being a knockout to Charles Johnson in July 2024. This matchup at UFC 323 is keenly watched, as both fighters bring impressive records and performances to the octagon.