Ali Akbar Rosady
The bantamweight division’s apex will be contested on Saturday, December 6, when reigning champion Merab Dvalishvili faces off against former titleholder Petr Yan in the main event of UFC 323: Dvalishvili vs. Yan 2. The championship clash is set to headline a stacked fight card at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with the main card commencing at 10 p.m. ET. Preceding the main event, the early preliminary bouts are scheduled to kick off at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the preliminary card at 8 p.m. ET.
Merab Dvalishvili, widely known as "The Machine" for his relentless pace and suffocating grappling, enters the octagon as a significant favorite, with DraftKings Sportsbook listing him at -410. His opponent, Petr Yan, the hard-hitting "No Mercy" striker, is positioned as the underdog at +320. This championship bout marks Dvalishvili’s fourth title defense in what has been a remarkably active and dominant reign.
Dvalishvili’s recent championship run has been nothing short of historic. The 34-year-old Georgian-born champion first captured the UFC bantamweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 in September 2024. He then embarked on a series of successful defenses, including a unanimous decision win against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 in January, a submission victory in a rematch against Sean O’Malley at UFC 316 in June, and most recently, a unanimous decision over Cory Sandhagen at UFC 320 on October 4. This latest win against Sandhagen marked his record-setting third successful title defense.
With a professional record of 21-4, Dvalishvili’s resume boasts three knockout wins, two submissions, and an impressive 16 victories by decision. His fighting style, characterized by incessant pressure and takedowns, has earned him two Performance of the Night and two Fight of the Night awards. Dvalishvili holds the distinction of having the most wins by decision in UFC history and leads the promotion in total takedowns landed, with an astounding 117. His consistent dominance has propelled him to the No. 3 spot in the official UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings.
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Petr Yan, 32, a former UFC interim bantamweight champion and one-time undisputed bantamweight champion, aims to reclaim the title. Yan is currently riding a three-bout winning streak, having most recently secured a unanimous decision victory over Marcus McGhee at UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. de Ridder on July 26. His path back to the title shot has showcased his elite striking and resilience, which have been hallmarks of his career.
Yan’s professional journey began in December 2014, quickly establishing himself with an 8-1 record before joining the UFC in 2018. Upon his arrival, he was recognized as the No. 5 Newcomer of the Year. In 2019, his stellar performances earned him a spot among the Top-10 Fighters of the Year. Yan has been involved in three Fight of the Night performances and has received one Performance of the Night bonus. His bantamweight career is marked by notable achievements, including being tied for the fourth-longest win streak in divisional history with seven consecutive victories, and tied for the third-most knockdowns in bantamweight history with 10. He currently sits at No. 3 in the UFC bantamweight rankings, setting the stage for a compelling championship showdown.
The co-main event of UFC 323 will feature another championship bout, as flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja defends his title against challenger Joshua Van. Pantoja enters as the -225 favorite, while Van is the +185 underdog. This matchup promises a high-octane affair in one of the UFC’s fastest divisions.
Beyond the headlining title fights, the UFC 323 main card presents several other high-stakes matchups. Former flyweight champion Brandon Moreno (+110) will face rising contender Tatsuro Taira (-130) in a pivotal bout for the 125-pound division. Another intriguing contest sees former two-division champion Henry Cejudo (+205) return to action against the undefeated prospect Payton Talbott (-250). In the light heavyweight division, former champion Jan Blachowicz (-110) will look to rebound against Bogdan Guskov (-110) in a contest that is currently listed as a pick’em.
For those looking to engage with the betting markets, SportsLine expert Daniel Vithlani has provided detailed predictions and betting advice for UFC 323. Vithlani, a highly analytical UFC bettor, has consistently delivered winning picks for SportsLine members since his debut in January 2023, boasting a 5-0 record for UFC 283 and accumulating over $1,500 on his UFC main-card sports betting picks. His track record includes correctly calling upset victories for Sean O’Malley (+210) against Aljamain Sterling (-250) at UFC 292, as well as underdog selections on Dustin Poirier (+190) against Benoit Saint Denis (-230) and Michael Page (+110) against Kevin Holland (-130) at UFC 299.
Vithlani’s insights extend to the preliminary card, where he has identified a compelling pick in the lightweight matchup between Chris Duncan (-108) and Terrance McKinney (-112). "The odds for this matchup surprised me, as I expected Duncan to be a much wider favorite," Vithlani stated. He elaborated on Duncan’s strengths: "Duncan is on a three-fight win streak and is now 5-1 in the UFC. He’s shown off a solid kickboxing game, a lethal squeeze on his chokeholds and great durability and determination. Duncan fights with a hard-nosed style and refuses to be denied even when the fight isn’t going his way."
Analyzing McKinney, Vithlani acknowledged the threat posed by his opponent: "McKinney is an explosive finisher who is always dangerous. In his 17-7 pro career, McKinney’s fights have gone past the first round just twice. He has never fought to a decision and has been finished in all of his losses. McKinney’s flying knees and rear-naked chokes could put Duncan in danger, but I believe Duncan’s mentality and physicality will give him the edge. If Duncan lands a heavy counterpunch in traffic, McKinney might not stand back up."
Prospective bettors can also take advantage of various promotional offers from leading sportsbooks. New users at DraftKings Sportsbook can target a promo code that offers $200 in bonus bets if their initial bet wins. Similarly, the latest Underdog promo code provides $100 in site credits when playing $5 with the code CBSSPORTS2 in select states. FanDuel also offers a promo code for new users, granting $150 in bonus bets instantly if their initial $5 bet wins.
Looking ahead, UFC content will transition to Paramount+ starting January 24, 2026. Fans interested in accessing the platform can sign up for a free 7-day trial.
UFC 323 promises an evening of high-stakes mixed martial arts, culminating in a pivotal bantamweight championship rematch that could redefine the division’s landscape.
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