Merab Dvalishvili, Petr Yan's Next Best Fights After UFC 323 Results

Petr Yan recaptured his UFC bantamweight championship with a shocking unanimous decision win over Merab Dvalishvili in the UFC 323 main event.

The upset win completes an improbable run back to the top for the 32-year-old. Yan was the champion back in 2020, but went 1-4 in his next five fights. That stretch ended with a loss to Dvalishvili.

Now he's once again the man to beat at 135 pounds and the division has taken yet another turn.

Here, we'll take a look at what that could mean for both main event combatants with three possible opponents for each.

Yan's Next Best Fights

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Merab Dvalshvili

Merab Dvalishvili

Sean O'Malley vs. Song Yadong Winner

Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Deiveson Figueiredo Winner

Petr Yan is the champion, but it's still hard to shake the idea that Merab Dvalishvili is the best bantamweight. He just came off three successful title defenses in a year and already holds a unanimous decision victory over him.

With the series tied at one apiece, it would make sense if the two wanted to settle the score right away.

Of course, the UFC hasn't always been about immediate rematches, especially if there is a big name to push.

Sean O'Malley could be one of the biggest winners of the night. It would be hard to sell him getting another crack at Dvalishvili. He's already lost to him twice. However, O'Malley holds a split decision win over the new champion.

A rematch would be big business if he can get past Song Yadong on January 24.

That January card will be big for the bantamweight division because the next contender could emerge from it. Umar Nurmagomedov and Deiveson Figueiredo are also set to fight on the card.

Either would have enough name recognition and resume to get a crack at the title if Yan wants to go that direction.

Dvalishvili's Next Best Fights

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Aiemann Zahabi

Petr Yan

Aiemann Zahabi

Song Yadong

As mentioned earlier, Yan is the champion, but it really feels like we need a rubber match to truly crown the bantamweight king. Dvalishvili's 14-fight win streak is hard to ignore.

The best option for both the old and new champions is to run it back for a third time.

There's also a case to be made for new blood, though. Aiemann Zahabi would be a completely new challenge for the former champion if he wants a bounce-back fight to set up his Yan rematch.

He spoke of wanting to see new names ahead of this bout:

"I'm excited. [Aiemann] Zahabi is coming from a long winning streak, which is good. Song Yadong has a fight against Sean O'Malley," Dvalishvili told Damon Martin. "If Yadong wins somehow, of course I'm cheering for Sean O'Malley, but if Yadong wins, I'd like to fight him too."

Song Yadong is scheduled to fight Sean O'Malley on January 24. That bout could set the stage for a matchup with Dvalishvili whether he wins or loses if he isn't next in line for a title shot.