Home » Sport » UFC 323: Dvalishvili vs Yan II – Unpacking the Bigger Picture Behind the Rematch

UFC 323: Dvalishvili vs Yan II – Unpacking the Bigger Picture Behind the Rematch

by Luis Mendoza - Sport Editor

Breaking: UFC 323 Delivers Thrilling Rematch as Dvalishvili Falls to Yan in bantamweight Showdown

In a dramatic main‑event at the UFC 323 card, former champion Merab “The Machine” Yan reclaimed the bantamweight throne by defeating Giga chikadze‑produced Rafaël Dvalishvili via unanimous decision.The bout,held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas,marked Yan’s second clash with Dvalishvili after their 2023 encounter.

Yan’s victory propelled him back to the top of the division, while Dvalishvili slipped to third in the updated rankings released later that night.

post‑Fight Rankings adn Betting Landscape

Following the event, the UFC’s official bantamweight hierarchy shifted as follows:

Rank Fighter Record Recent Result

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UFC 323: Dvalishvili vs Yan II – Unpacking the Bigger Picture Behind the Rematch

Event Overview – UFC 323 Highlights

Date & Venue

  • December 7 2025, 23:14 GMT – Madison Square Garden, New York
  • Main card broadcast on ESPN+ & UFC Pay‑Per‑View

Fight Card Snapshot

order Fighter Opponent Result
1 Merab Dvalishvili Yan Song TBD
2 (Co‑main)…

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why the Rematch Matters – stakes & Rankings

1. Featherweight Division Realignment

  • Current UFC featherweight rankings (as of 12/2025):
    1. Alexander Volkanovski (Champion)
    2. Max Holloway
    3. Ilia Kamalov
    4. Merab Dvalishvili
    5. Yan Song
  • A win for Dvalishvili solidifies his #4 spot and forces a title‑contender conversation.
  • Yan’s victory would catapult him into the top‑three, potentially setting up a Volkanovski‑Yan showdown.

2. Historical Context

Fight Date Outcome Meaning
Dvalishvili vs Yan I 06/2024,UFC 294 dvalishvili wins by unanimous decision First‑time meeting,showcased dvalishvili’s relentless pressure
Dvalishvili vs yan II 12/2025,UFC 323 Upcoming Rematch tests whether Yan can adapt his striking against Dvalishvili’s cardio‑driven grappling

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3. Title‑Shot Pathways

  • If dvalishvili wins:
  • Immediate #4 to #3 jump.
  • Likely next step → fight Ilia Kamalov (#3) at UFC 327.
  • If Yan wins:
  • Moves into #3,forcing the UFC to book a #2 vs #3 clash (Yan vs Holloway) at the earliest chance.

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Technical Breakdown – Styles & Strategies

H2: Merac Dvalishvili – The Pressure Machine

Core strengths

  • Cardio: Holds a 15‑minute average output, out‑lasting opponents in the later rounds.
  • Wrestling: 3.4 takedowns per 15 min, 78% takedown accuracy (UFC StatTracker, 2024‑2025).
  • Clinch control: 7.2 minutes of ground control per fight.

Potential adjustments for Fight II

  1. Mix striking to keep yan guessing and prevent a clean distance game.
  2. Improve takedown set‑ups using feints and level changes after Yan’s jab.

H2: Yan Song – The Technical Striker

Core strengths

  • Striking accuracy: 49% (notable for a featherweight).
  • Leg kicks: 3.8 per round, high damage accumulation.
  • counter‑punching: 12% knockout ratio from counters (UFC Stats, 2023‑2025).

Potential adjustments for Fight II

  1. Employ lateral movement to avoid Dvalishvili’s relentless forward pressure.
  2. Utilize early burst: Aim for a first‑round knockout before Dvalishvili’s cardio advantage kicks in.

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Statistical Comparison – Numbers That Tell the Story

Metric Merab Dvalishvili (Career Avg.) Yan Song (Career Avg.)
Significant Strikes Landed / Min 4.1 5.6
Takedown Accuracy 78% 38%
Striking Defense 62% 71%
Average Fight Duration 13:42 11:03
KO/TKO Ratio 18% 36%
Submission Ratio 22% 4%

Interpretation: Dvalishvili’s endurance outmatches Yan’s striking volume; Yan’s higher KO ratio forces Dvalishvili to avoid standing exchanges early.

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Impact on Future Matchups – What’s Next?

H3: Scenario A – Dvalishvili Wins

  1. UFC 327 Featherweight Title Eliminator – Dvalishvili vs Ilia Kamalov.
  2. Potential Volkanovski‑Dvalishvili Title Fight – Summer 2026 if Dvalishvili defeats Kamalov.

H3: Scenario B – Yan Wins

  1. UFC 327 Co‑Main Event – Yan vs Max Holloway (ranked #2).
  2. Fast‑track to Volkanovski – if Yan beats Holloway, a Volkanovski vs Yan bout could be booked for UFC 330.

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Betting Odds & Market Trends – What the Numbers Show

Bookmaker dvalishvili Odds Yan Odds Over/Under (Rounds)
DraftKings -150 +130 2.5 rounds
BetMGM -140 +120 3.0 rounds
william Hill -155 +135 2.5 rounds

Key insights

  • The market leans slightly toward Dvalishvili (+10%) due to his cardio edge.
  • Over/Under set at 2.5-3 rounds suggests bookmakers anticipate a decisive finish or a closely contested decision.

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Fan Reaction & Social Media Buzz

  • Twitter hashtag #DvaYanII trended at #5 globally during the pre‑fight press conference.
  • Reddit MMA threads: Over 70 k total comments; 62 % of users predicted a late‑round decision for Dvalishvili.
  • Instagram reels: 1.2 M views on highlight mash‑ups of both fighters’ previous encounters.

Practical tip for viewers: Turn on “fight stats overlay” on the ESPN+ app to watch real‑time strike counts and cardio meters-enhances understanding of each round’s momentum.


Real‑World Example – How a Similar Rematch Played Out

Case Study: Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Dustin Poirier II (UFC 242)

  • Lesson: The champ adjusted his grappling angles, neutralizing Poirier’s striking, resulting in a dominant decision.
  • Takeaway for Dvalishvili vs Yan II: If Dvalishvili integrates sharper striking setups, he can replicate Khabib’s strategic evolution and avoid Yan’s knockout window.

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