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UFC 323 Fight Week: PantojaVan Set as Dvalishvili–Yan Headlines Final ESPN PPV

Betting markets back Pantoja, with skepticism growing about the 24-year-old challenger’s readiness.

Overview

  • UFC 323 takes place Saturday, Dec. 6, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas with two title fights: Merab Dvalishvili vs. Petr Yan at bantamweight and Alexandre Pantoja vs. Joshua Van at flyweight.
  • Bookmakers list Pantoja as the favorite in the roughly -225 to -265 range, with underdog prices on Van tightening to about +175 to +200 as lines have inched his way since opening.
  • UFC analyst Din Thomas argues Van’s title shot may be premature and predicts Pantoja’s grappling and experience could lead to a finish, calling the matchup a difficult style test for the challenger.
  • Van says he will enter without a set game plan and predicts a knockout inside three rounds, while Pantoja cautions that Van’s background and motivation make him dangerous and vows a dominant defense.
  • The promotion is billing UFC 323 as its final numbered pay-per-view of the ESPN era before shifting to Paramount+, with Dvalishvili a heavy favorite as he pursues a fourth title defense of 2025 against Yan.