UFC 323 pre-event facts: Merab Dvalishvili chases historic end to 2025

The final pay-per-view event of the ESPN era goes down Saturday with UFC 323 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

It’s a significant moment in company history, and although it’s not leaving this chapter behind with the biggest stars on the roster, there is a plethora of elite talent and two championship fights at the top of the bill.

In the main event, Merab Dvalishvili (21-4 MMA, 14-2 UFC) look to put a cap on his historic 2025 campaign when he puts bantamweight gold on the line vs. Petr Yan (19-5 MMA, 11-4 UFC). Then in the co-main event, flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja (30-5 MMA, 14-3 UFC) goes for his fifth defense against 24-year-old Joshua Van (15-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC).

For more on the numbers behind UFC 323, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts.

Merab Dvalishvili vs. Petr Yan

Merab Dvalishvili

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 04: Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia looks on prior to a during a bantamweight title bout against Cory Sandhagen of the United States in UFC 320: Ankalaev vs Pereira 2 at T-Mobile Arena on October 04, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Dvalishvili is one of two Georgian champions in UFC history. Ilia Topuria also accomplished the feat.

Dvalishvili is one of nine undisputed bantamweight champions in UFC history.

Dvalishvili’s four victories in UFC bantamweight championship fights are tied for second-most in divisional history behind T.J. Dillashaw (five).

Dvalishvili’s three consecutive UFC bantamweight title defenses are tied with Aljamain Sterling for most in divisional history.

Dvalishvili is one of three fighters in UFC history to win an undisputed championship after starting 0-2 in the promotion. Rafael dos Anjos and Miesha Tate also accomplished the feat.

Dvalishvili is one of eight fighters in UFC history to register three title defenses in one calendar year. He’s the only bantamweight to accomplish the feat.

Dvalishvili can become the first fighter in UFC history to record four title defenses in one calendar year.

Dvalishvili’s 14-fight UFC winning streak is fourth-longest in company history behind Anderson Silva (16), Islam Makhachev (16) and Kamaru Usman (15).

Dvalishvili’s 14-fight UFC winning streak is the second-longest active streak in the company behind Makhachev (16).

Dvalishvili’s 13-fight UFC winning streak at bantamweight is the longest active streak in the division.

Dvalishvili’s 13-fight UFC winning streak at bantamweight is the longest streak in divisional history.

Dvalishvili’s 13 victories in UFC bantamweight competition are tied with T.J. Dillashaw and Marlon Vera for second-most in divisional history behind Aljamain Sterling (14).

Dvalishvili’s 12 unanimous decision victories in UFC competition are most in company history.

Dvalishvili’s 11 decision victories in UFC bantamweight competition are most in divisional history.

Dvalishvili has landed 117 takedowns in UFC competition, the most in company history.

Dvalishvili’s 20 takedowns landed at UFC 320 are most in a UFC championship fight history.

Dvalishvili’s 20 takedowns landed are second-most in a single UFC fight behind Khabib Nurmagomedov’s record of 21.

Dvalishvili is the only fighter in history to land 10 or more takedowns in five separate UFC bouts.

Dvalishvili has earned 16 of his 21 career victories by decision. That includes 12 of his 14 UFC wins.

Dvalishvili attempted 49 takedowns at UFC Fight Night 221, the single-fight record for a UFC bout.

Dvalishvili out-landed Marlon Moraes by 212 total strikes at UFC 266, the largest differential in a single UFC/WEC bantamweight bout.

Petr Yan

Yan became the first fighter in UFC history to lose a title by disqualification against Sterling at UFC 259.

Yan is one of two fighters in UFC history to hold the interim and undisputed bantamweight titles. Renan Barao also accomplished the feat.

Yan has earned eight of his 11 UFC victories by decision.

Yan’s 10 knockdowns landed in UFC bantamweight competition are tied for third-most in divisional history behind Montel Jackson (11) and Marlon Vera (11).

Alexandre Pantoja vs. Joshua Van

Alexandre Pantoja

Pantoja is one of five undisputed UFC flyweight champions.

Pantoja’s four consecutive UFC title defenses are most among current champions.

Pantoja is one of four fighters in UFC history to force a title change by split decision when he won at UFC 290. Robbie Lawler, Henry Cejudo and Carla Esparza also accomplished the feat.

Pantoja’s five victories in UFC flyweight championship fights are second-most in divisional history behind Demetrious Johnson (12).

Pantoja’s 14 victories in UFC flyweight competition are most in divisional history.

Pantoja’s eight-fight UFC winning streak at flyweight is the longest active streak in the division.

Pantoja’s eight-fight UFC winning streak at flyweight is the second-longest streak in divisional history behind Johnson (13).

Pantoja’s eight stoppage victories in UFC flyweight competition are most in divisional history.

Pantoja’s six submission victories in UFC flyweight competition are most in divisional history.

Pantoja’s six fight-night bonus for UFC flyweight bouts are tied for third-most in divisional history behind Johnson (nine) and Brandon Moreno (seven).

Joshua Van

Van makes his fourth UFC appearances of 2025. He’s 3-0 with wins at UFC 317 in June, UFC 316 in June and UFC 313 in March.

Van can become the fighter fighter born in the 2000s to win a UFC championship.

Van’s five-fight UFC winning streak at flyweight is the second-longest active streak in the division behind Pantoja (eight).

Van lands 8.86 significant strikes per minute in UFC competition, the highest rate in company history.

Van lands 56.8 of his significant strike attempts in UFC flyweight competition, the second-best rate in divisional history behind Johnson (57.2 percent).

Van and Brandon Royval combined for 419 significant strikes landed at UFC 317, the all-time record for most in a three-fight UFC fight.

Van and Royval combined for 419 significant strikes landed, the most in UFC flyweight history and third-most all-time a single UFC fight.

Van landed 215 significant strikes landed and Royval landed 204 significant strikes landed, marking the first time in UFC history where two fighters have had 200 significant strikes more in a single fight.

Brandon Moreno vs. Tatsuro Taira

Brandon Moreno (23-8-2 MMA, 11-4-2 UFC) was the first champion in UFC history to be born in Mexico.

Moreno and Deiveson Figueiredo fought to the fourth draw in UFC title fight history at UFC 256.

Moreno and Figueiredo are the only set of fighters in UFC history to fight each other three consecutive times.

Moreno and Figueiredo are the only set of fighters in UFC history to fight each other four times.

Moreno is one of seven fighters in UFC history to earn a between-rounds stoppage in a title fight. He accomplished the feat at UFC 283.

Moreno competes in his 19th UFC flyweight bout, tied with Tim Elliott for second-most appearances in divisional history behind Joseph Benavidez (19).

Moreno’s 11 victories in UFC flyweight competition are fourth-most in divisional history behind Pantoja (14), Benavidez (13) and Johnson (13).

Moreno’s six stoppage victories in UFC flyweight competition are tied for fourth-most in divisional history behind Pantoja (eight), Figueiredo (seven) and Johnson (seven).

Moreno’s three submission victories in UFC flyweight competition are tied for fourth-most in divisional history behind Johnson (five), Pantoja (five) and Muhammad Mokaev (four).

Moreno’s seven fight-night bonuses for UFC flyweight bouts are second-most in divisional history behind Johnson (nine).

Tatsuro Taira’s (17-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) five stoppage victories since 2022 in UFC flyweight competition are most in the division.

Henry Cejudo vs. Payton Talbott

Feb 22, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Henry Cejudo (red gloves) fights Song Yadong (blue gloves) in the bantamweight bout during UFC Fight Night at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Henry Cejudo (16-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC) is one of 11 fighters in UFC history to win titles in two weight classes.

Cejudo is one of four simultaneous two-division champions in UFC history. Conor McGregor, Amanda Nunes and Daniel Cormier also accomplished the feat.

Cejudo is one of three fighters in UFC history to record successful title defenses in two weight classes. Cormier and Nunes also accomplished the feat.

Cejudo is the only MMA fighter to win an Olympic gold medal and a UFC championship.

Cejudo is one of four Olympic gold medalists to fight in the UFC, along with Kayla Harrison, Kevin Jackson and Mark Schultz. He earned gold in freestyle wrestling at the 2008 summer Olympics.

Cejudo is one of two Olympic gold medalist to fight in the UFC since the organization was purchased by parent company Zuffa. Harrison also accomplished the feat.

Cejudo enters the event on a three-fight losing skid and hasn’t earned a victory since May 2020.

Jan Blachowicz vs. Bogdan Guskovd

Mar 22, 2025; London, England, United Kingdom; Jan Blachowicz (red gloves) fights against Carlos Ulberg (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Peter van den Berg-Imagn Images

Jan Blachowicz’s (29-11-1 MMA, 12-8-1 UFC) three-fight winless skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since May 2022.

Blachowicz is one of two Polish champions in UFC history. Joanna Jedrzejczyk also accomplished the feat.

Blachowicz vs. Magomedov Ankalaev at UFC 282 is one of six title-fight draws in UFC history.

Blachowicz becomes the fifth fighter in UFC history to make 22 or more light heavyweight appearances.

Blachowicz is one of four light heavyweights in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a body kick. He accomplished the feat at UFC Fight Night 53.

Bogdan Guskov’s (18-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) four-fight UFC winning streak at light heavyweight is tied for the third-longest active streak in the division behind Carlos Ulberg (nine) and Azamat Murzakanov (six).

Guskov has earned all 18 of his career victories by stoppage.

Guskov’s four-fight UFC stoppage streak is tied with Sam Patterson and Valter Walker for the longest among active fighters in the company.

Grant Dawson vs. Manuel Torres

Grant Dawson (23-2-1 MMA, 11-1-1 UFC) is 7-1-1 since he moved up to the UFC lightweight division in March 2020.

Manuel Torres (16-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) has earned 15 of his 16 career victories by stoppage. That includes all four of his UFC wins.

Terrance McKinney vs. Chris Duncan

Terrance McKinney (17-7 MMA, 7-4 UFC) has earned all 17 of his career victories by stoppage. He’s finished 16 of those wins in Round 1.

McKinney has earned all seven of his UFC victories by first-round stoppage.

McKinney’s seven first-round stoppage victories since 2021 in UFC competition are most among active fighters in the company.

McKinney’s average fight time of 2:25 in UFC lightweight competition is the shortest in divisional history.

McKinney’s seven-second knockout at UFC 263 is the fourth-fastest in UFC history. Jorge Masvidal holds the record with a five-second finish.

McKinney’s seven-second knockout at UFC 263 is the fastest in UFC history by a debuting fighter.

McKinney’s seven-second knockout at UFC 263 is the fastest in UFC lightweight history.

McKinney is one of three fighters in UFC history to earn multiple knockout victories of 20 seconds or less. Anthony Johnson and Matthew Semelsberger also accomplished the feat.

Maycee Barber vs. Karine Silva

Maycee Barber’s (14-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) six-fight UFC winning streak at women’s flyweight is the second-longest active streak in the division behind Natalia Silva (seven).

Barber’s eight victories in UFC women’s flyweight competition are tied for third-most in divisional history behind Valentina Shevchenko (12) and Katlyn Cerminara (nine).

Barber is 8-2 since she moved up to the UFC women’s flyweight division in March 2019.

Barber’s three knockout victories in UFC women’s flyweight competition are tied with Manon Fiorot for second-most in divisional history behind Shevchenko (four).

Karine Silva (19-5 MMA, 5-1 UFC) has earned 17 of her 19 career victories by stoppage. She’s finished 13 of those wins in Round 1.

Silva’s three submission victories in UFC women’s flyweight competition are tied for third-most in divisional history behind Gillian Robertson (six) and Erin Blanchfield (four).

Silva is the only female in UFC history to earn three consecutive victories by first-round submission.

Silva is one of three females in UFC history to earn a submission victory by D’Arce choke. She accomplished the feat at UFC Fight Night 207. Tatiana Suarez and Jasmine Jasudavicius also won with the technique.

Nazim Sadykhov vs. Fares Ziam

Fares Ziam’s (17-4 MMA, 7-2 UFC) five-fight UFC winning streak at lightweight is tied for the second-longest active streak in the division behind Paddy Pimblett (seven).

Ziam has earned six of his seven UFC victories by decision.

Ziam absorbs 1.62 significant strikes per minute in UFC lightweight competition, the best rate among active fighters in the weight class.

Marvin Vettori vs. Brunno Ferreira

Marvin Vettori’s (19-9-1 MMA, 9-7-1 UFC) three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since March 2023.

Vettori’s average fight time of 16:48 in UFC middleweight competition is third-longest in divisional history behind Sean Strickland (18:11) and Israel Adesanya (17:09).

Vettori and Jared Cannonier combined for 394 significant strikes landed at UFC on ESPN 47, the single-fight record for a UFC middleweight bout.

Vettori is one of five fighters to land 11 or more takedowns in a UFC middleweight bout. He accomplished the feat at UFC on ABC 2.

Vettori has had five performances of 100 or more significant strikes landed in UFC middleweight competition, the second-most in divisional history behind Strickland (eight).

Brunno Ferreira (14-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) is one of 10 fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a spinning back elbow. He accomplished the feat at UFC on ESPN 57.

Edson Barboza vs. Jalin Turner

Edson Barboza’s (24-13 MMA, 18-13 UFC) 16 knockdowns landed in UFC competition are fourth-most in company history behind Donald Cerrone (20), A. Silva (18), and Jeremy Stephens (18).

Barboza’s seven knockout victories in UFC lightweight competition are tied with Melvin Guillard for third-most in divisional history behind Drew Dober (10) and Dustin Poirier (nine).

Barboza is the only fighter in UFC history with knockout finishes stemming from a head kick, body punch, body kick, leg kicks, and flying knee.

Barboza has earned six knockouts in UFC competition stemming from a knee or kick, the second-most in company history behind Cerrone (seven).

Barboza is one of two fighters in UFC history to earn multiple leg kick TKO victories. Jonathan Martinez also accomplished the feat.

Barboza has been awarded 10 Fight of the Night bonuses, tied with Dustin Poirier for most in company history.

Barboza is one of 10 fighters in UFC history to be awarded with 13 or more career fight night bonuses.

UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on X @MJCflipdascript.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 323 pre-event facts: Merab Dvalishvili chases historic end to 2025

Source link