Petr Yan reclaimed the UFC bantamweight title on Saturday night at the T Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, where the Russian defeated Merab Dvalishvili by unanimous decision after a gruelling five round contest that showcased his superior striking.
Yan, who had lost to Dvalishvili in their previous meeting in March 2023, set the tone early, controlling the distance with sharp boxing and opening cuts on the Georgian in the opening rounds. His attempt at a surprise takedown later in the fight backfired when Dvalishvili reversed the position, but Yan scrambled back to his feet before any significant damage was done.
A heavy body kick from Yan late in the third round had Dvalishvili retreating, yet the 34 year old remained game, returning for the fourth with renewed aggression. He locked in a tight guillotine choke that came close to ending the fight, only for Yan to escape and re-establish his rhythm.
Yan’s investment in body shots paid dividends as the bout wore on. He used his jab to control the fifth round and capped the performance with a late takedown. All three judges scored the bout in his favour, confirming his return to the top of the division two years after losing the belt to Aljamain Sterling in April 2022.
“I am very happy to stand here with the championship belt, I am very, very happy,” Yan said in the cage. “I worked so hard. I prepared so hard for this moment. This is my life.”
The co main event ended in shocking fashion as Joshua Van claimed the flyweight title after Alexandre Pantoja suffered a severe arm injury just 26 seconds into the fight. Van caught a kick from the defending champion, who attempted to post on the canvas but fell awkwardly, breaking his arm and prompting an immediate stoppage.
