A MMA discussion breakdown of Dana White’s latest announcements said the UFC has started filling out UFC 323 with key title fights and main events. The segment specifically referenced Alexandre Pantoja vs. Joshua Van for the flyweight title and Merab Dvalishvili’s next championship defense against Petr Yan. The updates matter because they sharpen the title pictures at flyweight and bantamweight and help complete the late-2025 schedule that feeds into the 2026 calendar. The next step is the UFC’s formal bout announcements and the final order of the card.
Reports surfaced on May 25 that the UFC is eyeing two title bouts for UFC 323, though neither contest has received an official announcement. According to a breakdown of Dana White's latest comments, flyweight gold and bantamweight gold are both being targeted for the card, with the matchups still awaiting formal confirmation.
The flyweight picture centers on champion Joshua Van defending against the division's top-ranked contender, Alexandre Pantoja. Van, just 24 years old and fighting out of Myanmar under the 4oz. Fight Club banner, carries a 17-2 record and has been one of the most prolific strikers in the weight class, landing 8.84 significant strikes per minute at a 56 percent accuracy rate. Pantoja, nicknamed "The Cannibal," brings a 30-6 record and significantly more championship experience to the table. The 36-year-old Brazilian trains at American Top Team and is ranked fourth pound-for-pound, with 2.8 takedowns per 15 minutes and one submission attempt per 15 minutes signaling a more multidimensional attack than his opponent. His reach of 67 inches also gives him a two-inch advantage over the champion.
At bantamweight, Merab Dvalishvili is reportedly set for another championship defense against former title challenger Petr Yan. Dvalishvili, 35, out of Georgia and the Serra-Longo Fight Team, holds a 21-5 record and sits second in the pound-for-pound rankings. His defining weapon is volume wrestling — 6.4 takedown attempts per 15 minutes — though his striking accuracy of 42 percent leaves room for opponents to exploit on the feet.
Why it matters
- A Van-Pantoja fight pits the sport's youngest flyweight titleholder against its most decorated recent challenger, with contrasting styles built around striking versus grappling
- Dvalishvili's next defense carries divisional weight as Yan represents a high-level striking threat to the champion's takedown-heavy game plan
- Both bouts, if confirmed, would sharpen the 125-pound and 135-pound title pictures heading into the 2026 calendar
Joshua Van vs Alexandre Pantoja
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Merab Dvalishvili vs Petr Yan
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