UFC boilover as two new champs crowned after fight of year, ‘arm snaps’ in sickening scene
Two new champions have been crowned at UFC 323 but it was heartbreak for one fighter who suffered a truly sickening injury.
Petr Yan has shocked the UFC world, stopping Merab Dvalishvili’s stunning run with a unanimous decision victory to reclaim the bantamweight title.
Dvalishvili was gunning to claim a record fourth title defence on the calendar year, but Yan delivered with five takedowns to end the Georgian’s 14-fight win streak.
“Wow, what a fight, what a tremendous fight,” Joe Rogan said.
UFC 323: Dvalishvili vs Yan | SUN 7 DEC 2PM AEDT | Bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili will look to make history and become the first fighter to defend a championship for a fourth time in a year when he takes on former champ Petr Yan in Las Vegas. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
Yan beat Song Yadong, Deiveson Figueiredo and Marcus McGhee on his way to this title fight, but was considered a considerable outsider to secure a victory.
The Russian gun caught his opponent in the first round, but Dvalishvili then began grappling and forced his opponent up to the cage, failing to take him to the ground.
The second round saw Dvalishvili secure his first takedown, but Yan was up to the task and returned fire — getting back to his feet in impressive fashion.
In the third, Dvalishvili landed an impressive right but Yan would not lie down and managed to find the Georgian’s back, showing he was well and truly up for the fight.
But, in a moment Yan would wish to get back, Dvalishvili picked him up and walked him around the octagon and the crowd cheered, slamming him down on the canvas.
Joe Rogan summed up the fourth round, saying: “Petr Yan is all over him, this is a stellar performance”.
Last ppv and its ending with one of the best fights ever
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) December 7, 2025
And from there, he had several strong moments in the final round, with Dvalishvili bloody and bruised at the conclusion of the bout.
Yan, meanwhile, was largely unscathed.
The last time Yan held the bantamweight title was in 2022 when he lost it to Aljamain Sterling, while he also previously lost to Dvalishvili in 2023.
Rogan labelled the win “one of the finest performances in the bantamweight division”.
“I’m very, very happy. I worked so hard and I prepared so hard for this moment, this is my life,” Yan said.
Dvalishvili, meanwhile, said he wanted to “run it back” as he called for a rematch and a third fight between the pair.
AN UGLY FINISH
Alexandre Pantoja has been dealt a brutal blow in his bid to defend his flyweight title, suffering an ugly dislocated elbow in his fight with Joshua Van.
Falling after a kick, Pantoja’s elbow bent in awkward fashion while trying to break his fall and he immediately signalled for the fight to be called off.
“That’s so crazy,” Joe Rogan said.
“That might be a dislocation, that might be a break. That looks real bad.
“He threw a head kick and after posting himself on the way down, his arm snaps.”
It was a disappointing way for Pantoja to lose his belt and end an eight-win streak, but for Van he comes away as the new champion.
“As unceremoniously as it could for Pantoja... hard to watch,” Jon Anik said.
He is the first Asian-born man to win a title, with the American-Burmese fighter securing a win by TKO.
The 24-year-old has now won nine of his last ten fights, taking down randon Royval, Bruno Silva, and Rei Tsuruya on his way to the title fight.
Speaking after the victory, Van said “I didn’t know what happened” as he pulled away after the referee stepped in.
“He is one of the greatest of all time and I didn’t want the fight to go that way, maybe the UFC will figure something out man,” Van said.
At the conclusion of the card, Megan Olivi revealed Pantoja had suffered a shoulder dislocation, which returned to the socket during the ugly moment.
Pantoja was also said to have walked out of the venue on his own with his family and kids alongside him in positive signs.
However, Rogan wasn’t certain.
“It doesn’t even make sense, we saw his elbow literally leave the joint,” Rogan said.
LEGEND DOMINATED BY RISING STAR IN FINAL FIGHT
One of the UFC’s most decorated fighters, Henry Cejudo, was dominated by rising gun Payton Talbott in an entertaining bantamweight bout.
The currently unranked Talbott is now certain to join the bantamweight standings, displaying impressive improvement against the 38-year-old.
Cejudo hasn’t won a fight since he defended his bantamweight title against Dominick Cruz in May 2020, losing his belt to Aljamain Sterling in 2023.
In the first round, Talbott pressed forward and secured takedowns, while in the second the up-and-comer showcased his striking, despite some late Cejudo resistance.
Throughout the bout, Talbott was smiling and celebrating as his opponent’s right eye suffered a nasty cut which swelled in ugly fashion.
Jon Anik said Cejudo’s eye was “unrecognisable” by the end of the second round and Talbott controlled the third to secure the unanimous 30-27 victory.
“I’m young and I’m only going to keep getting better, Henry, I respect the guy so much,” Talbott said.
“Give it up for Henry Cejudo, the saviour of the flyweight division.”
Cejudo, meanwhile, shared a conversation with Dana White post-fight, smiling and laughing as he enjoyed his final moments in the octagon, ending his career 16-6.
“Payton is the future man,” he said, before reflecting on a stellar career.
“The UFC will be the best sport in the world,” Cejudo added, ending his career with an Olympic gold medal and both flyweight and bantamweight titles.
JAPANESE STAR’S CLASSY DISPLAY
Tatsuro Taira has secured a second round TKO victory, with the referee calling the fight off after a barrage of punches in the clinch.
The No.5 ranked flyweight star became the first man to finish No. 2 ranked contender Brandon Moreno, avoiding a first round loss after being dominated on the canvas.
But it was the second round that saw Taira take the ascendency, which ultimately led to Mark Smith stopping the fight — although commentators didn’t agree.
“No I agree, that was a little premature. He was a little bit upset about the stoppage,” Joe Rogan said, explaining Moreno is a fighter who deserves more time to respond.
Taira, meanwhile, was asked what he thought about the referee’s decision.
“I was pretty sure those pounds were going in, actually my first pound knockout,” he said.
“UFC please give me a title shot baby.”
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Originally published as UFC boilover as two new champs crowned after fight of year, ‘arm snaps’ in sickening scene
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