UFC 323 Aftermath: Top Fights to Consider Following an Eventful Event

The future looks promising for UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan after UFC 323. A change in leadership comes with plenty of opportunities for Yan, including:

A trilogy fight against Merab Dvalishvili
A rematch with Sean O’Malley
A high-profile bout against Umar Nurmagomedov.

Last Saturday’s pay-per-view, marking the conclusion before the Paramount+ era, surprised many. Yan and Joshua Van both triumphed over noted champions Dvalishvili and Alexandre Pantoja, respectively, reshaping two divisions.

Following UFC 323, here are the potential key matchups for the upcoming year:

Bantamweight Matchup

Petr Yan (c) vs. Merab Dvalishvili 3: If anyone merits an immediate rematch, it’s Dvalishvili, who once dominated the division, holding multiple records. Their prior encounters resulted in a tie, making a trilogy match highly anticipated.

If Dvalishvili opts for a break after an exhausting year, both O’Malley and Nurmagomedov are looking to make their marks in future fights at UFC 324.

Flyweight Matchup

Joshua Van vs. Tatsuro Taira or Alexandre Pantoja: Pantoja deserves a rematch following his injury during the title defense. He needs to recover before facing the winner of Van and Taira, who have shown their readiness to jump back into action quickly.

Brandon Moreno vs. Kyoji Horiguchi: This clash appeals to hardcore fans as both fighters possess impressive accolades.

For detailed matchups and updates on UFC events, stay tuned!