The Bantamweight King Meets His Toughest Test Yet at UFC 323
Merab Dvalishvili has been on a dominant run in the Bantamweight Division. The Georgian fighter completed four title defenses within one calendar year, which made history in the UFC. He is set to face Petr Yan next Saturday at UFC 323 for another title defense. Yan will be a good opponent for Merab as Yan is a former Bantamweight champion. This matchup is expected to test Merab’s relentless pressure and wrestling against Yan’s elite striking and championship experience.
As this is set to be a great matchup, Dvalishvili has most of the momentum on his side. He has been fighting all throughout the year, defending his title against very tough opponents. This is extremely rare, as the UFC is used for fighters gatekeeping their belts and spacing fights out. Merab has gone against what many fighters have done and has thrown his title on the line multiple times this year alone. While many believe this is risky, the 34-year-old phenom has proven the doubters wrong time and time again. The frequent title defenses that Merab takes show his confidence in his game, and why he is the best in the Bantamweight Division. He is relentless in the octagon and has a very high output. He fights with an intense pace and continuously pressures his opponent throughout the fight. His stamina is also extremely sound as he can maintain a strong wrestling tempo through three or five rounds. Petr Yan focuses more on striking and displays elite movements throughout his fights. He has precise boxing skills along with extremely disciplined footwork. The 32-year-old is patient in the early rounds of the fight and saves his energy for when he finds openings. This is set to be an exciting matchup with high stakes. Merab is throwing his title up for grabs another time, and Yan is hungry to possess it once again.
As Merab closes out 2025, he is the best in the division. He has tons of confidence in himself and his training, along with a very high-energy fighting style. While Petr Yan is extremely skilled, the momentum is very much on Merab’s side. He will look to dominate on the ground and use effective rather than flashy striking. However, Yan will be throwing heavy shots and looking to weaken Merab. This will be a great matchup to close out the year.
