Five reasons to watch UFC 323, featuring Merab Dvalishvili vs. Petr Yan 2 + Alexandre Pantoja vs. Joshua Van

Pantoja promotes UFC event. Photo: Reproduction/X/UFC

O UFC 323 This marks the end of an era. The event will be the last numbered event organized by the organization in 2025 and in partnership with ESPN. The attraction, which takes place this Saturday (6), in Las Vegas (USA), will have two title fights, featuring a Brazilian in the spotlight. In the fight that headlines the show, Merab Dvalishvili, the bantamweight champion (up to 61,2 kg), puts his title on the line for the fourth time this year against Petr yan. In the co-principal struggle, Alexandre pantoja, king of the flyweight division (up to 57 kg), measures his strength against Joshua Van.

In total, the UFC 323 It consists of 14 fights. Besides Pantoja, Brazil will be represented by five more professionals at the event, all part of the preliminary card. In it, Edson Barboza fight against jalin turner, Bruno Hulk faces Marvin vettori, Karina Silva is ahead Maycee barber, Mairon Santos face Muhammad Naimov e Antonio Trocoli deals with Mansur Abdul-MalikTo get in the mood, the team of SUPER FIGHTS selected five reasons to follow the show.

1) Pantoja seeking his 5th title defense

Dominant flyweight champion Pantoja will attempt to extend his reign. UFC 323The 35-year-old Brazilian puts his belt on the line for the fifth time, something rare in modern MMA. A veteran of the sport, 'The Cannibal', the reigning champion, won. Brandon royval, Kai Asakura, Kai Kara France e Steve ErcegNow, the athlete faces Van, 24, who is a promising talent in the sport. The match is a classic clash of styles.

Pantoja is a grappling specialist and his greatest weapon is jiu-jitsu. The title challenger, on the other hand, is a natural striker and stands out for his intense pace and volume of strikes. According to betting odds, the Brazilian champion is the favorite to win the co-main event. UFC 323.

2) The unstoppable Merab

Photo: Reproduction/Instagram/brwlrz

Currently, few professionals enjoy fighting as much as Merab. If in 2024 the Georgian shone and won the bantamweight title, in the current season he has surpassed himself. In impeccable fashion, 'The Machine' goes into his fourth fight of the year, living up to his nickname 'The Machine'.

As champion, the athlete defended his title by winning. Umar NurmagomedovSean O'Malley for the second time and Cory Sandhagen In January, June, and October, respectively. Now, the Georgian faces Yan, his rival, again. In 2023, Merab dominated the Russian and won by unanimous decision. According to bookmakers, 'The Machine' is the favorite to win the main event. UFC 323.

3) Cejudo's Farewell

Cejudo backstage at the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/X/UFC

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At 38, Henry Cejudo has already informed that the UFC 323 This will mark his definitive retirement from MMA. A legend of combat sports, the wrestler faces the promising... Payton Talbott, 27 years old. With three consecutive losses, 'Triple C' is experiencing the worst moment of his career, but hopes to return to winning ways in his farewell match, especially if he puts his high-level wrestling skills into practice.

At his peak, the American made his mark on the mat and in the octagon. In wrestling, Cejudo won the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics (China) in 2008, and in the UFC, he was champion in both the flyweight and bantamweight divisions.

4) Old guard vs. new generation

Like Cejudo and Pantoja, Brandon Moreno He will also face a fighter from the new generation. The veteran, former flyweight champion, will face off against... Tatsuro TairaIn a crucial duel for the division, the winner will move closer to a title shot. The Mexican is a well-rounded athlete, known for his high-level boxing, constant movement, and volume of strikes. On the other hand, the 25-year-old Japanese fighter is taller and his main weapon is his jiu-jitsu, making him a natural finisher.

5) Partnering with Walter Walker on the road to the top

O UFC 323 represents a golden opportunity for Bogdan Guskov to shine and move to the next level in their career. In the middleweight division (93 kg), the training partner of Walter Walker, who has been excelling in the octagon, fights against the former champion Jan BlachowiczThe 42-year-old, displaying impressive knockout power, aims to capitalize on the Pole's poor run in the octagon (two losses and one draw) to climb from 11th place in the rankings to, perhaps, fifth place.

How to watch UFC 323

Starting at 20:00 PM (Brasilia time), the UFC 323 It will be broadcast live and in its entirety by UFC Fight Pass, Ultimate's official streaming platform. The main card is scheduled to start at 24pm. The UFC has not broadcast 'Combate' since the end of 2022.