In only a few days, the newest huge Final Preventing Championship occasion can be upon us. MMA followers around the globe didn’t have to attend lengthy after UFC 322 and the earlier Struggle Evening occasion. Scheduled for Saturday, December 6, the occasion will happen on the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, which has been residence to a few of fight sports activities’ most electrical nights. Over the previous few years, each town and the venue have additionally been the unofficial residence of the largest MMA promotion, as Vegas UFC occasions all the time ship particular performances and a ton of prime tier leisure. The newest iteration marks the ultimate numbered pay per view present of 2025, capping the 12 months with one of the vital stacked playing cards thus far.
On the prime of the cardboard, reigning bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili will defend his title in a rematch in opposition to the previous champ Petr Yan, a combat that carries enormous stakes. Dvalishvili appears to safe a report setting fourth title protection of the 12 months, whereas Yan appears to get again the belt from the very man who took it from him at UFC Struggle Evening: Yan vs Dvalishvili in 2023. Within the co most important occasion, one other title combat because the flyweight king Alexandre Pantoja places his belt on the road in opposition to rising contender Joshua Van, who brings momentum and hype as one of many sport’s most promising younger skills. With the drama of a significant rematch and the joy of a contemporary face chasing gold, full with a deep most important card that includes former champions and rising contenders? Oh yeah, it will be a doozy!
A Deep Dive Interview With the Headliners
If you’re a fan of fight sports activities, UFC, and MMA, you understand how necessary inside data and first hand sources are. With that in thoughts, we deliver to you the Exclusive UFC 323 interview with Stake Ambassador Merab Dvalishvili. The champion has a partnership with the main crypto on-line on line casino and sportsbook, which is legendary for its ties and sponsorships of among the largest names in sports activities. From soccer (Everton) to System 1 (Sauber), Stake is closely concerned in sports activities, however UFC has all the time been its primary accomplice. Because of their frequent sitdowns with among the largest fighters earlier than their bouts, we once more have the privilege to see what he needed to say and the way they really feel earlier than their upcoming title defenses.
UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili sat down for an in depth interview, and the Stake interviewer wasted no time instantly asking about him not having a lot time since his final combat. Has he had sufficient time to coach and put together? “So after my combat, I didn’t actually take time without work,” stated the champion, and continued, “I had some enterprise conferences in Kuwait, and I went on a little bit journey to New York to see my members of the family, and that’s after we acquired the information that I’d be defending my belt once more.” The lifetime of a champion is harder than followers assume! He added, “After that, I got here again to Vegas and began coaching camp. I used to be mentally prepared, bodily prepared, and I’ve been coaching exhausting since.”
Stake continued to speak concerning the ongoing 2025 calendar, saying that is going to be his fourth combat this 12 months, and asking if that was ever the plan. “It wasn’t deliberate to have 4 fights, however the plan was that I wished to be busy, and I wished to get as many fights as doable.” He’s in his prime in any case, so what higher time to cement his legacy than proper now? Merab continued, saying, “And that’s what I advised Hunter Campbell after I was in his workplace, I advised him, hey, I wish to be a busy champion, and please give me as many fights as you possibly can.”
Many UFC champs take a breather following their title win and solely take one or two title defenses per 12 months. Dvalishvili is totally different, and he’s going for the report breaking fourth title protection in a single 12 months. “I wish to thank the UFC and Hunter for that, for preserving me busy. And now I assume it’s a report. However first I’ve to make the load, Petr has to point out up, and I’ve to win, after which I’ll get pleasure from all of it.”
Commenting on whether or not or not champions ought to combat as usually as he’s, or no less than twice a 12 months, he agreed that “twice a 12 months is sweet,” and that “being a champion is totally different, nevertheless it’s particular person.” He considers himself totally different, including, “I’d moderately be busy and combat 4 instances a 12 months.” He’s understanding of his fellow fighters, although, as not everyone seems to be as prepared or prepared. “The individuals who solely combat two instances a 12 months, that’s cool, I perceive, and it is smart.”
Speaking about his opponent, Stake reminded Merab that Yan claimed he was solely at 50% final time and the way true he thinks that was. My job is to imagine that, and I’ve to take this world critically,” Merab answered whereas preserving it skilled and respectful. “So he was 50% as a result of I all the time respect my opponents and I all the time assume that they’re the subsequent finest problem for me, even when I fought them or it’s a brand new opponent for me. It’s a sport, and I’ve to count on the 50% higher model of Petr Yan. And that signifies that I’ve to be higher 50% as effectively.”
Evaluating the 2 fights, he was requested what he may take away from the primary assembly with Petr and the way it was going to be totally different this time round. “So, what I realized from my first combat in opposition to Petr, it was exhausting to take him down, it was exhausting to manage him, and naturally, he’s an excellent striker, however I beat him with stress.” However will or not it’s sufficient this time? He continued, “However actually it doesn’t matter, as a result of for this combat he’ll change his type, he’ll repair his errors. So now this time, I can be a greater model. I’ve to be a greater model to beat him.”
UFC 323 Odds and Predictions
When you imply to bet on UFC 323, you need to know who the bookies and consultants assume has one of the best possibilities. Subsequently, now we have the freshest odds and most correct predictions for the upcoming spectacle in Vegas. When the headliner is in query, Merab Dvalishvili (21-4) is the heavy favourite to defend his Bantamweight Championship belt for the report setting fourth time in a single 12 months. He has 1.24 odds to win it, whereas the fighter who already misplaced to him, Petr Yan, is just at 4.20. It’s a landslide of a distinction that each one however confirms how significantly better the Georgian champion is. His opponent from Russia is the third ranked fighter with a 19-5 profession report, however he’s at the moment no match for the defending champ.
Within the co headliner, it is usually the defending champion who’s the heavy favourite for the win. The Flyweight UFC Champion from Brazil has 1.44 odds to beat the Rank 1 fighter from the USA, Joshua Van, who’s at 2.90 odds in his title problem. At 30-5 for his profession, Pantoja is much extra skilled in comparison with the 15-2 that Van has proper now. The youthful, on the rise fighter is just not with out his likelihood, however the bookies favor the title holder to defend his belt and enter 2026 because the reigning champion.
Within the different bouts, Tatsuro Taira is the slight favourite in opposition to Brandon Moreno with 1.81 and a couple of.06 odds, respectively. Payton Talbott has 1.38 odds versus Henry Cejudo with 3.15, whereas Jan Blachowicz has a slight higher hand with 1.77 in his conflict with Bogdan Guskov with 2.10. Grant Dawson is a transparent favourite with 1.46 odds versus Manuel Torres with 2.85, as is Christopher Duncan (1.65) in his matchup with Terrance McKinney (2.30). Maycee Barber is the favourite with 1.52 odds in opposition to Karine Silva with 2.60, whereas Fares Ziam has a bonus with 1.75, versus 2.13 that Nazim Sadykhov brings to the desk.
Shifting additional down the playing cards and nearer to the beginning of the occasion, a really balanced combat awaits the followers between Marvin Vettori and Bruno Ferreira as their odds are 1.88 and 1.97, respectively. Jalin Turner is a heavy favourite in opposition to Edson Barboza with 1.32 in opposition to 3.55 odds, whereas Iwo Baraniewski ought to maintain enterprise in opposition to Ibo Aslan with 1.52 in opposition to 2.60 in odds. Essentially the most lopsided affair is the second bout of the night time when Mansur Abdul Malik, with staggering 1.08 odds, faces Antonio Trocoli with 8.60 odds. Not often can we see such disparity. The primary combat of the night time options Mairon Santos with 1.40 odds and Muhammad Naimov with 3.10.
Merab Dvalishvilli FAQs
1. The place is Merab Dvalishvili from?
Merab was born in 1991 in Tbilisi, Georgia, which was previously part of the Soviet Union that dissolved the identical 12 months. He grew up working towards Georgian conventional martial arts like chidaoba and khridoli, together with sambo and judo, which is the bottom of his relentless grappling type within the UFC.
2. How did he find yourself preventing in america?
Merab moved to america at age 21 to pursue skilled MMA alternatives. He finally settled in New York Metropolis, the place he skilled underneath Matt Serra and Ray Longo. He later turned a naturalized US citizen whereas nonetheless proudly sustaining his Georgian heritage. He’s now formally a Georgian-American.
3. What did he do earlier than turning into an expert fighter?
Earlier than MMA paid the payments and allowed an athlete’s life-style, Merab labored in development and juggled jobs whereas coaching. Early in his profession, he confronted a number of losses and even thought of quitting the game, however perseverance and the dream of being a champion have all the time saved him going.
4. What’s his preventing type like?
Merab is legendary for his insane cardio, stress, and non cease wrestling tempo. He units a relentless tempo with fixed takedown makes an attempt and scrambles. He holds a black belt in judo, a purple belt in BJJ, and is understood for breaking opponents with quantity moderately than one shot energy.
5. What’s his MMA report, and what titles has he gained?
Merab’s skilled report is 21 wins and 4 losses. He’s the UFC Bantamweight Champion, having captured the belt in 2024. His title run contains a number of excessive profile defenses in opposition to elite contenders.
6. Who’re a few of his most notable opponents?
He has defeated a number of main names, together with José Aldo, Petr Yan, Henry Cejudo, and Sean O’Malley (the combat the place he gained the belt). These victories solidified him as one of many prime bantamweights of his period, and the most effective ever.
7. What’s his partnership with Stake.com about?
Merab is an official model ambassador for Stake.com, the net sportsbook and on line casino. He collaborates with the model round combat promotions, interviews, fan content material, and particular occasions.
8. What is exclusive about his private life or philanthropy?
After successful the UFC title, the Georgian authorities awarded him a big prize, which he donated to assist grappling growth in Georgia. He’s deeply loyal to his residence nation and sometimes dedicates victories to the Georgian individuals.
9. What challenges did he face on his path to success?
Merab’s profession began with severe adversity. He misplaced his UFC debut and his first two UFC fights, struggled financially, and practically retired out of desperation and discouragement. However with persistence, improved coaching companions, and a relentless work ethic, he reworked himself right into a champion and is doing a fabulous job at defending what he labored so exhausting for.
10. What are his hobbies and pursuits outdoors MMA?
Outdoors the cage, Merab enjoys touring, coaching with associates, selling Georgian tradition, and connecting with followers. He’s recognized for his upbeat character, self-discipline, and devotion to representing Georgia on the world stage.
