Sterling Offers Divergent Scorecard, Believing Dvalishvili Secured Early Rounds in UFC 323 Championship Bout

Aljamain Sterling, former bantamweight champion and close teammate of Merab Dvalishvili, presented a distinct interpretation of the scoring in Dvalishvili’s recent UFC 323 main event title defense against Petr Yan. Following the highly anticipated championship clash at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in 2025, where Sterling served in Dvalishvili’s corner, he publicly stated his real-time belief that Dvalishvili had won the initial three rounds of the contest, despite the official judges ultimately awarding the victory to Yan.

The main event saw Petr Yan reclaim the undisputed bantamweight championship, avenging a prior loss, through what was described as a virtuoso performance over five rounds. The official scorecards reflected a decisive victory for Yan, with two judges scoring the bout 49-46 and a third judge offering a closer 48-47 margin, all in favor of the newly crowned two-time champion. Sterling, however, recounted a different experience from cage-side.

“I will say in real time, I thought it was possibly us winning the first three rounds even though I knew that they were close, I just thought we edged it out,” Sterling elaborated on his YouTube channel. His assessment continued, “Especially the fourth round, I knew Yan won that round, and then obviously as the fight’s going, Round 5, we knew [Yan] was starting to get the better of that round, so I figured it would be 3-2 us.” The discrepancy between his personal 3-2 scorecard for Dvalishvili and the official 4-1 and 3-2 for Yan prompted reflection from Sterling. “3-2 I’m not super mad about. The 4-1 was kind of like, it always makes me wonder what the hell am I watching if I had it 3-2? I don’t know.”

Sterling acknowledged the competitive nature of the fight and extended credit to Yan’s performance. “Close fight. Yan, he did great, can’t really say anything about it,” Sterling affirmed. While commending Yan, he also offered a nuanced perspective on Dvalishvili’s showing. “I do think Merab didn’t quite look himself, but I want to make sure I’m giving respect and props to Yan for the things that he also did well. So it could have been a little bit of both. A little bit of a bad night and also one guy was just on another level that night.”

Related News :

The context surrounding Dvalishvili’s performance highlights the immense pressure and demanding schedule he faced. The UFC 323 bout marked Dvalishvili’s attempt to achieve an unprecedented milestone in the promotion’s history: securing four successful title defenses within a single calendar year. Furthermore, it would have been his third title defense within a six-month period, underscoring a rigorous fight camp and competitive strain that could potentially impact a fighter’s peak condition. Despite the loss, Dvalishvili extended congratulations to Yan in his post-fight interview, demonstrating sportsmanship.

Dvalishvili himself commented on his strategy, suggesting he may have engaged Yan in prolonged stand-up exchanges in an effort to entertain the audience. This claim, however, stands in contrast to official UFC statistics, which record Dvalishvili attempting 29 takedowns during the fight, indicating a consistent effort to implement his grappling-heavy style. Sterling concurred with the sentiment that Dvalishvili could have diversified his approach more effectively.

“All in all, I thought fun fight for the fans,” Sterling stated. He expressed a degree of puzzlement regarding Dvalishvili’s tactical choices. “I can’t tell you why he decided to stand in front of him for as long as he did. We kind of started to tell him in between rounds, ‘Hey, now he’s thinking that we’re willing to trade with him. Now let’s start to add in that wrestling and that should be the X-factor to help us pull apart and pull away and create some distance in the scoring.’ But yeah, he would have to answer that. It’s really hard for me to say.”

Sterling concluded his analysis by emphasizing the developmental aspect of the experience. “Definitely a couple of things we could learn from and grow from with this fight, which I’m happy about because as long as you have room to grow or to kind of see where you can correct some of the errors, that’s what’s the most important and I really just don’t think that was the best version of Merab with what we’ve seen out of him in basically all his fights.”

Petr Yan’s victory at UFC 323 marks his second reign as the undisputed bantamweight champion. His initial reign concluded prematurely in March 2021 when an illegal knee strike against Sterling resulted in a disqualification loss. With the bantamweight division remaining one of the UFC’s most competitive, Yan now faces a series of compelling challenges. An immediate trilogy bout with Dvalishvili is a distinct possibility, given the competitive nature of their rivalry and the 1-1 record between them. Alternatively, if Dvalishvili opts for a break following his demanding schedule, Yan could face the winner of upcoming pivotal matchups. These include Umar Nurmagomedov versus Deiveson Figueiredo, a clash that could produce a fresh and formidable challenger in Nurmagomedov, or Sean O’Malley versus Song Yadong, with O’Malley potentially offering Yan an opportunity to avenge another past loss. Figueiredo and Song, having recently competed against the reigning champion, might find themselves further down the pecking order for an immediate title shot.

Sterling remains optimistic about Dvalishvili’s prospects for an immediate rematch, should the opportunity arise. “Overall, for what I think was an off day, I think Merab still fought relatively well and probably would have beaten a lot of people still,” Sterling asserted, reflecting his confidence in his teammate’s overall skill set. “I think us who train with him would agree with that. Yan, it was just his night, better man that night, and now they’re one fight apiece and I really hope they make the trilogy fight.”

SportsBreakNews.com Daily Digest

TOP STORIES

UFC 323 Analysis: The MMA Fighting Crew released a comprehensive report detailing the significant takeaways from UFC 323, including discussions on Petr Yan’s championship performance and its potential implications for the bantamweight division.
Presidential Projections: President Donald Trump speculated on the potential for "eight or nine" championship fights to be booked for a UFC event at the White House, indicating continued high-level interest in the sport from political figures.
Coach’s Reaction to Loss: Merab Dvalishvili’s coach, John Wood, described the aftermath of the UFC 323 loss to Petr Yan as being "like waking up from a nightmare," conveying the profound disappointment within Dvalishvili’s camp.
Jedrzejczyk Statement: Joanna Jedrzejczyk issued a statement addressing an altercation with Jamahal Hill, asserting that she does not deserve to be threatened and shedding light on a recent incident.
Chimaev’s Accusation: Khamzat Chimaev publicly accused Alex Pereira of avoiding a fight, stating, "Everyone knows this guy is not my level," escalating rhetoric in the middleweight division.
New Broadcast Home: Dana White’s Contender Series and The Ultimate Fighter have secured new broadcast homes after their departure from ESPN, signaling a shift in the distribution landscape for these popular UFC development programs.
Golden Globe Nominations: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Emily Blunt received Golden Globe nominations for their starring roles in The Smashing Machine, a biopic centered on the life of MMA pioneer Mark Kerr, highlighting the increasing mainstream recognition of the sport’s history.

VIDEO STEW

Post-UFC 323 Interview: MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin conducted an interview with John Wood, Merab Dvalishvili’s coach, offering further insights into the team’s perspective following the UFC 323 main event.
Dvalishvili’s Stamina Questioned: MMA Fighting’s Blaine Henry presented an analysis questioning whether Merab Dvalishvili’s intense fighting style and demanding schedule might have led to him being "run ragged" during the championship bout.
Analyst Perspectives: Prominent UFC commentators and analysts, including Anik, Florian, Chael Sonnen, and Daniel Cormier, provided their expert takes on the recent UFC pay-per-view event, dissecting key fights and performances.

SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

A compilation of the week’s most impactful knockouts circulated, showcasing the power and precision within combat sports.
Social media users expressed anticipation for upcoming fights, indicating high demand for compelling matchups.
A highlight reel of a "solid" performance garnered significant attention, celebrating a fighter’s exceptional skill.
A viral post served as a reminder of a memorable moment in MMA history, emphasizing the sport’s rich past.
Optimistic messages regarding a fighter’s comeback circulated, demonstrating fan loyalty and belief in resilience.
A tribute post celebrated a legendary figure, reinforcing their lasting legacy in the sport.
A rare or unusual event captured on video gained traction, illustrating the unpredictable nature of combat sports.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The aftermath of UFC 323 continues to resonate throughout the mixed martial arts community, with discussions focusing on the event’s standout performances and the implications for various divisions. As the year concludes, the UFC is set to deliver one final card this Saturday, providing a concluding spectacle before the extensive schedule of fights announced for the first quarter of 2026 begins. This upcoming event, UFC Vegas 112, serves as a concluding offering, a final engagement for fans before the new year’s intense calendar of competition.

READER ENGAGEMENT

For any feedback or suggestions regarding the Morning Report, please contact @AlexanderKlee or @JedKMeshew on X (formerly Twitter). Additionally, follow MMAFighting on X, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, and like our page on Facebook for continuous updates and content.