UFC 323 packs two championship battles into one epic night

UFC 323’s main event will feature a high-stake title fight for the bantamweight title between the reigning champion from Georgia, Merab Dvalishvili, and the Russian striking phenom, Petr Yan.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, December 6 in Las Vegas.

Pound-for-pound fighter Merab is defending his title for the fourth time in a calendar year and if he wins, he will become the first fighter in UFC history to win four title fights in one calendar year.

The main event is a rematch of the 2023 fight between Merab and Petr, which was won by the reigning champion by unanimous decision.

Petr has a record of 19–5, while Merab is 21–4.

The co-main event is also a title fight for the flyweight belt between the current titleholder Alexandre Pantoja and the 24-year-old Joshua Van, who is also appearing for the 4th time this year.

Brazilian champion Pantoja has conquered five challengers during his two-and-a-half-year reign. If Van manages to win, he’ll become the first-ever UFC champion born after 2000 and second-youngest in UFC history.

Experts have predicted favourites for both title fights with Merab being top pick of ESPN MMA Analyst Anthony Smith, MMA Coach Din Thomas, MMA Analysts Rashad Evans and Alan Jouban in the bantamweight title.

For the flyweight belt, only Rashad Evans picked Van and all others think Pantoja will enter the octagon as favourite.