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Petr Yan Dethrones Dvalishvili; Joshua Van Crowned After Pantoja Injury at UFC 323

The event capped the UFC’s ESPN pay-per-view era in the U.S., ushering in a Paramount+ shift for 2026.

Overview

  • Petr Yan won a unanimous decision over Merab Dvalishvili (49-46, 49-46, 48-47) to reclaim the bantamweight title, ending Dvalishvili’s 14-fight streak and his bid for a fourth defense this year.
  • Joshua Van captured the flyweight belt 26 seconds into the co-main event after Alexandre Pantoja suffered a left arm injury, leaving the division’s near-term plans dependent on Pantoja’s recovery.
  • Henry Cejudo dropped a 30-27 decision to Payton Talbott and announced his retirement in the Octagon.
  • Tatsuro Taira stopped former champion Brandon Moreno in the second round, positioning himself as a leading contender at 125 pounds.
  • UFC 323 marked the promotion’s final U.S. ESPN pay-per-view, with a seven-year Paramount+ deal set to begin Jan. 24 at UFC 324 in Las Vegas.