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Russian mixed martial artist (MMA) Petr Yan became a two-time Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bantamweight champion after defeating Georgian Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 323 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Yan won by unanimous decision with scores of 49-46, 49-46, 48-47.
Yan became the first Russian fighter to regain a UFC championship title. The 32-year-old previously won the bantamweight belt in July 2020 with a technical knockout victory over Brazilian Jose Aldo. In March 2021, the Russian was disqualified in a fight with American Aljamain Sterling due to an illegal knee strike on the ground, and in April 2022, he lost a split decision to Sterling in a rematch. Yan has a 20-5 MMA record.
Dvalishvili, 34, suffered his fifth defeat in 21 victories in mixed martial arts. The Georgian won the title in September 2024, defeating American Sean O'Malley by unanimous decision, and has since successfully defended the belt three times. In 2023, Dvalishvili defeated Yan by unanimous decision.