Yan beat Song Yadong, Deiveson Figueiredo and Marcus McGhee on his way to this title fight, but was considered a considerable outsider to secure a victory.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1765088290_713_poster-fallback.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n
The Russian gun caught his opponent in the first round, but Dvalishvili then began grappling and forced his opponent up to the cage, failing to take him to the ground.<\/p>\n
The second round saw Dvalishvili secure his first takedown, but Yan was up to the task and returned fire \u2014 getting back to his feet in impressive fashion.<\/p>\n
In the third, Dvalishvili landed an impressive right but Yan would not lie down and managed to find the Georgian\u2019s back, showing he was well and truly up for the fight.<\/p>\n
But, in a moment Yan would wish to get back, Dvalishvili picked him up and walked him around the octagon and the crowd cheered, slamming him down on the canvas. <\/p>\n
Joe Rogan summed up the fourth round, saying: \u201cPetr Yan is all over him, this is a stellar performance\u201d.<\/p>\n
And from there, he had several strong moments in the final round, with Dvalishvili bloody and bruised at the conclusion of the bout.<\/p>\n
Yan, meanwhile, was largely unscathed.<\/p>\n
The last time Yan held the bantamweight title was in 2022 when he lost it to Aljamain Sterling, while he also previously lost to Dvalishvili in 2023.<\/p>\n
Rogan labelled the win \u201cone of the finest performances in the bantamweight division\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very, very happy. I worked so hard and I prepared so hard for this moment, this is my life,\u201d Yan said.<\/p>\n
Dvalishvili, meanwhile, said he wanted to \u201crun it back\u201d as he called for a rematch and a third fight between the pair.<\/p>\n
“No Mercy!” Merab vs Yan: Final Face-Off | 02:32<\/p>\n
AN UGLY FINISH<\/p>\n
Alexandre Pantoja has been dealt a brutal blow in his bid to defend his flyweight title, suffering an ugly dislocated elbow in his fight with Joshua Van.<\/p>\n
Falling after a kick, Pantoja\u2019s elbow bent in awkward fashion while trying to break his fall and he immediately signalled for the fight to be called off.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s so crazy,\u201d Joe Rogan said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat might be a dislocation, that might be a break. That looks real bad.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe threw a head kick and after posting himself on the way down, his arm snaps.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was a disappointing way for Pantoja to lose his belt and end an eight-win streak, but for Van he comes away as the new champion.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs unceremoniously as it could for Pantoja… hard to watch,\u201d Jon Anik said.<\/p>\n
He is the first Asian-born man to win a title, with the American-Burmese fighter securing a win by TKO.<\/p>\n
The 24-year-old has now won nine of his last ten fights, taking down randon Royval, Bruno Silva, and Rei Tsuruya on his way to the title fight.<\/p>\n
Speaking after the victory, Van said \u201cI didn\u2019t know what happened\u201d as he pulled away after the referee stepped in.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is one of the greatest of all time and I didn\u2019t want the fight to go that way, maybe the UFC will figure something out man,\u201d Van said.<\/p>\n
At the conclusion of the card, Megan Olivi revealed Pantoja had suffered a shoulder dislocation, which returned to the socket during the ugly moment.<\/p>\n
Pantoja was also said to have walked out of the venue on his own with his family and kids alongside him in positive signs.<\/p>\n
However, Rogan wasn\u2019t certain.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t even make sense, we saw his elbow literally leave the joint,\u201d Rogan said.<\/p>\n
Joshua Van celebrates after defeating UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja. (Steve Marcus\/Las Vegas Sun via AP)Source: AP<\/p>\n
LEGEND DOMINATED BY RISING STAR IN FINAL FIGHT<\/p>\n
One of the UFC\u2019s most decorated fighters, Henry Cejudo, was dominated by rising gun Payton Talbott in an entertaining bantamweight bout.<\/p>\n
The currently unranked Talbott is now certain to join the bantamweight standings, displaying impressive improvement against the 38-year-old.<\/p>\n
Cejudo hasn\u2019t won a fight since he defended his bantamweight title against Dominick Cruz in May 2020, losing his belt to Aljamain Sterling in 2023.<\/p>\n
In the first round, Talbott pressed forward and secured takedowns, while in the second the up-and-comer showcased his striking, despite some late Cejudo resistance.<\/p>\n
Throughout the bout, Talbott was smiling and celebrating as his opponent\u2019s right eye suffered a nasty cut which swelled in ugly fashion.<\/p>\n
Jon Anik said Cejudo\u2019s eye was \u201cunrecognisable\u201d by the end of the second round and Talbott controlled the third to secure the unanimous 30-27 victory.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m young and I\u2019m only going to keep getting better, Henry, I respect the guy so much,\u201d Talbott said.<\/p>\n
\u201cGive it up for Henry Cejudo, the saviour of the flyweight division.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cejudo, meanwhile, shared a conversation with Dana White post-fight, smiling and laughing as he enjoyed his final moments in the octagon, ending his career 16-6.<\/p>\n
\u201cPayton is the future man,\u201d he said, before reflecting on a stellar career.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe UFC will be the best sport in the world,\u201d Cejudo added, ending his career with an Olympic gold medal and both flyweight and bantamweight titles.<\/p>\n
Henry Cejudo reacts after his final fight. Ian Maule\/Getty Images\/AFPSource: AFP<\/p>\n
JAPANESE STAR\u2019S CLASSY DISPLAY<\/p>\n
Tatsuro Taira has secured a second round TKO victory, with the referee calling the fight off after a barrage of punches in the clinch.<\/p>\n
The No.5 ranked flyweight star became the first man to finish No. 2 ranked contender Brandon Moreno, avoiding a first round loss after being dominated on the canvas.<\/p>\n
But it was the second round that saw Taira take the ascendency, which ultimately led to Mark Smith stopping the fight \u2014 although commentators didn\u2019t agree.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo I agree, that was a little premature. He was a little bit upset about the stoppage,\u201d Joe Rogan said, explaining Moreno is a fighter who deserves more time to respond.<\/p>\n
Taira, meanwhile, was asked what he thought about the referee\u2019s decision.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was pretty sure those pounds were going in, actually my first pound knockout,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cUFC please give me a title shot baby.\u201d<\/p>\n
LIVE BLOG<\/p>\n