UFC 323: Pantoja Breaks His Arm, Joshua Van Becomes Champion and Petr Yan Reclaims Gold in a Wild Night in Las Vegas

UFC 323: Pantoja Breaks His Arm, Joshua Van Becomes Champion and Petr Yan Reclaims Gold in a Wild Night in Las Vegas

The UFC closed out 2025 with one of the most dramatic events of the entire year.
UFC 323, held on December 6, 2025, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, delivered shocking moments, title changes, legends falling, and the rise of new stars.

The biggest storyline of the night came from the co-main event, where Alexandre Pantoja, one of the most dominant flyweight champions in recent years, suffered a severe arm injury just 26 seconds into the fight against rising star Joshua Van, instantly losing his belt.

Here is the full breakdown of what went down.

🔥 Co-Main Event – Joshua Van def. Alexandre Pantoja (TKO, 0:26 R1)

The flyweight title fight was expected to be a high-pace technical battle — instead, it turned into one of the most sudden and heartbreaking endings of the year.

Right at the start:

  • Pantoja pressured aggressively,

  • attempted a high kick,

  • Van caught the kick and swept,

  • Pantoja landed awkwardly, immediately clutching his arm.

The referee waved it off instantly.
Van didn’t even need follow-up strikes.

What we know about the injury

  • Initial suspicion from cageside officials was a shoulder issue,

  • but backstage confirmations pointed toward a serious elbow/arm injury, very likely a fracture or dislocation,

  • Pantoja left the arena wearing a sling and is expected to undergo further evaluation.

Joshua Van makes history

At just 24 years old, Joshua Van becomes:

  • the new UFC Flyweight Champion,

  • the 2nd youngest UFC champion ever,

  • and the first male UFC champion from Myanmar.

The victory is bittersweet — Van himself acknowledged the unusual nature of the win and stated he is willing to face Pantoja again once the Brazilian is healthy.

🔥 Main Event – Petr Yan def. Merab Dvalishvili (Unanimous Decision)

The rematch delivered everything fans hoped for.
Unlike their first encounter, where Merab’s pressure broke Yan down, this time the Russian came prepared with:

  • sharp boxing,

  • excellent body work,

  • strong takedown defense,

  • and smart pacing across the five rounds.

Dvalishvili still pushed his trademark relentless pace, but Yan found the cleaner, heavier shots and even secured a momentum-shifting takedown in the final round.

Result:

Petr Yan regains the UFC Bantamweight Championship, returning to the top after years of ups and downs.

Fans are already calling for a trilogy in 2026.

🔥 Henry Cejudo vs Payton Talbott – The End of an Era

Another emotional moment came when Henry Cejudo stepped into the octagon for what became the final fight of his legendary career.

Talbott, one of the brightest rising prospects, used:

  • length,

  • pressure,

  • high-output striking

  • and surprising grappling sequences

to take all three rounds from the former double champion.

Result:

Payton Talbott wins via unanimous decision.

Immediately after the fight, Cejudo left his gloves in the cage and officially announced his retirement, closing one of the most decorated careers in MMA history.

🔥 Standout Brazilian Performance – Mairon Santos

Despite missing weight by 1.5 lbs, Mairon Santos delivered one of the best finishes of the night:

  • third round,

  • landed a perfect right hand that dropped Muhammad Naimov,

  • finished with ground-and-pound.

Santos remains undefeated in the UFC and continues rising quickly through the featherweight ranks.

Several other Brazilians also competed on the card with mixed results, contributing to a busy night for the green-and-yellow crowd.

📊 Impact of UFC 323 on the Divisions

Flyweight Division

  • Joshua Van is the new champion.

  • Pantoja awaits medical clearance.

  • A potential interim title or an immediate rematch could shape the division in 2026.

Bantamweight Division

  • Petr Yan is back on top.

  • Dvalishvili remains a top contender.

  • A trilogy is on the horizon.

Legacy Shakeups

  • Cejudo’s retirement leaves a vacuum in the bantamweight storyline.

  • Young prospects like Talbott and Santos gain serious traction heading into 2026.

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