The UFC bantamweight championship is set for a showdown on Saturday, where champion Merab Dvalishvili will defend his title against Petr Yan at UFC 323: Dvalishvili vs. Yan 2. Dvalishvili secured his title with a unanimous decision victory over Cory Sandhagen at UFC 320 on October 4. His opponent, Yan, enters following a recent unanimous decision win against Marcus McGhee at UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. de Ridder on July 26. The main card at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas kicks off at 10 p.m. ET, preceded by early preliminaries starting at 6 p.m. ET and regular preliminaries at 8 p.m. ET.
Dvalishvili is currently the favorite with betting odds of -410 (risk $410 to win $100), while Yan stands at +320 according to the latest odds reported by DraftKings Sportsbook. In the co-main event, Alexandre Pantoja will defend his title against Joshua Van, with odds favoring Pantoja at -225 against Van’s +185.
Before committing to any bets on UFC 323, it’s advisable to check the insights and betting strategies shared by UFC betting expert Daniel Vithlani from SportsLine. Vithlani boasts a strong track record, including suggesting an upset pick in Sean O’Malley over Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292 and other notable calls.
Dvalishvili vs. Yan 2 Preview
Dvalishvili, at 34, is amidst a 14-fight winning streak and became the UFC bantamweight champion after a unanimous decision against Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 in September 2024. With an impressive career record of 21-4, his victories feature 3 by knockout, 2 by submission, and 16 by decision, marking a significant achievement as he holds the most takedowns in UFC history with 117.
Yan, currently 32, has also shown great form lately, having won three matches consecutively and is known for being a former UFC interim bantamweight champion. He ties for the fourth-longest winning streak in the bantamweight division with seven victories.
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Predictions for UFC 323: Dvalishvili vs. Yan 2
One of Vithlani’s picks includes backing Chris Duncan (-108) to win against Terrance McKinney (-112) in their lightweight matchup.
