Merab Dvalishvili, reigning UFC bantamweight champion from Las Vegas, is on the edge of inscribing his name into the annals of history. December 6 at T-Mobile Arena, “The Machine,” who trains locally out of Syndicate MMA, is set to headline UFC 323 against former champion Petr Yan.
Although the fight itself is a much-awaited rematch, the stakes are historical: Dvalishvili is trying to become the first UFC fighter ever to have successfully defended a title four times inside a single calendar year.
Dvalishvili’s commitment to an active fight schedule is the highlight of this endeavor, a significant change from the usual practice where champions fight once or twice a year.
Merab Dvalishvili
Dana White , president of the UFC, has even been won over by the champion’s aggressive fighting strategy. Although with a historically controversial relationship, stemming from Dvalishvili’s first reluctance to fight his near friend and former champion Aljamain Sterling, White has enthusiastically supported his latest push for a fourth defense.
White complimented Dvalishvili’s attitude, saying he was “absolutely” the greatest UFC bantamweight ever.”
Dvalishvili’s Date with Destiny: The Ultimate Pay-Per-View Beyond Dvalishvili’s record effort, UFC 323 is important for the promotion’s whole terrain. Under the current ESPN broadcast rights agreement, the event represents the last pay-per-view planned.
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Starting in 2026, the UFC will move its premium events to Paramount+ as part of a major seven-year, $7.7 billion contract, thereby phasing out the conventional PPV model, at least for the near future.
Defeating Petr Yan
On Saturday night, the champion has the chance to establish a historical milestone and provide a clear case for his ranking as the greatest fighter in the division.
