UFC bantamweight Champion, Merab Dvalishvili, is looking to become the first person to defend his UFC title four times in a year when he takes on perennial contender Petr Yan in the main event of UFC 323 this Saturday. Georgian-American superstar Merab Dvalishvili beat Cory Sandhagen back in October in his third fight of 2025 and third title defense. He faces a familiar foe in Petr Yan following a 2023 clash that he won by unanimous decision. Russian Petr Yan is unbeaten in his last three fights, having not lost a fight since the setback against Dvalishvili. That notwithstanding, the defending champion is a huge favorite to get the win here.
Bet on Merab Dvalishvili vs Petr Yan 2 with Bet365
Merab Dvalishvili vs Petr Yan Fight Details
- Date: Saturday, December 6, 2025
- Time: 23:30 ET
- Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
Where to watch Merab Dvalishvili vs Petr Yan Live on TV or Stream
| Country | TV Channel/Stream |
|---|---|
| UK | PPV (TNT Sports, Discovery+) |
| US | ESPN PPV |
| Canada | PPV (Sportsnet) |
| Nigeria | Supersport, DSTV Stream |
Merab Dvalishvili vs Petr Yan Fight Preview
Merab Dvalishvili: form and statistics
"The Machine" rolls into the octagon for a fourth title defense of the year, just two months after defeating Sandhagen and tying the record for most consecutive UFC bantamweight title defenses. A warrior with insane output, Merab Dvalishvili's exceptional cardio and fitness have culminated in a high-pace form of fighting that leads to a lot of takedowns and attempted takedowns by “The Machine.” Against Yan in the first match, Dvalishvili attempted 49 takedowns to set a new UFC record. Currently on a 14-fight winning streak, the 34-year-old has the record for the longest winning streak in UFC bantamweight division history, the record for most unanimous decision wins in UFC history, and also holds the record for the most takedowns landed in a UFC fight, with 20.
Tale of the Tape
- Age: 34
- Height: 5'6"
- Reach: 68"
- Weight: 135 lbs (61kg)
- Record: 21-4
Petr Yan: form and statistics
"No Mercy" makes his second appearance of the year in this title fight. Three victories since losing to Dvalishvili in March 2023 have seen the Russian climb up to be the No. 3 contender in the bantamweight class. Last year, the 32-year-old saw off Song Yadong and former champion Deiveson Figueiredo, before a victory over Marcus McGhee last July. Petr Yan became UFC bantamweight champion in 2020, when he stopped Jose Aldo to claim the vacant title. He lost it in his first defense against Aljamain Sterling.
Tale of the Tape
- Age: 32
- Height: 5'7"
- Reach: 67"
- Weight: 135 lbs (61kg)
- Record: 19-5
Merab Dvalishvili vs Petr Yan Fight Prediction
In their last fight, Merab Dvalishvili attempted almost 50 takedowns on his way to defeating Petr Yan. One is likely to expect a similar pattern in this one as the champ attempts to defend his title for a fourth time. Petr Yan is confident of doing better this time around, as he blamed injuries for his lackluster performance in the first fight. His 3-fight streak is a pointer that he can perform when he is well. The challenge for Yan is that "The Machine" seems to be getting better with each fight. The only difficult question about this fight is basically how the win will come about for the champ. Merab by decision is our prediction.
Merab Dvalishvili vs Petr Yan Betting Odds
| Bookmakers | Dvalishvili to win | Dvalishvili by submission |
|---|---|---|
| Bet365 | 1.44 | 9.50 |
| 1xBet | 1.4 | 9 |
| Betway | 1.35 | 14 |
