There are two titles on the road Saturday at UFC 323, which is the penultimate UFC occasion of 2025.
A males’s bantamweight championship rematch between defending champ Merab Dvalishvili and former two-time titleholder Petr Yan headlines the motion with males’s flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja on the lookout for his fifth consecutive title defence when he takes on Joshua Van within the co-main occasion.
Both incumbent champions are anticipated to retain their belts, in response to oddsmakers. Dvalishvili is making an attempt to set a file by turning into the primary fighter in UFC historical past to efficiently defend his title 4 instances in a single calendar 12 months.
In addition to the 2 title fights, three former champions compete on the principle card.
Former flyweight champion Brandon Moreno will look to increase his present successful streak to 3 when he faces touted 25-year-old contender Tatsuro Taira. Former flyweight and bantamweight champ Henry Cejudo can have his farewell battle in opposition to Payton Talbott earlier than heading into retirement. The important card opens former light-heavyweight titleholder Jan Blachowicz aiming to snap a three-fight winless streak going up in opposition to harmful 205-pound finisher Bogdan Guskov who’ll be on the lookout for his fifth consecutive stoppage win.

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Watch UFC 323 on Sportsnet+
Merab Dvalishvili defends his bantamweight title in opposition to Petr Yan and flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja faces Joshua Van within the co-main occasion. Watch UFC 323 on Saturday, Dec. 6, with prelim protection starting 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, and pay-per-view important card beginning at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
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The stacked preliminary card is stuffed with expertise from the light-weight division, together with a featured bout between Grant Dawson and Manuel Torres, a gathering of fan-friendly finishers Terrance McKinney and Chris Duncan, and a Fight of the Night contender with Nazim Sadykhov taking up Fares Ziam.
Below is the projected bout order for UFC 323 (topic to alter) plus full predictions:
— Merab Dvalishvili vs. Petr Yan (5 rounds for bantamweight title)
— Alexandre Pantoja vs. Joshua Van (5 rounds for flyweight title)
— Brandon Moreno vs. Tatsuro Taira
— Henry Cejudo vs. Payton Talbott
— Jan Blachowicz vs. Bogdan Guskov
— Grant Dawson vs. Manuel Torres
— Terrance McKinney vs. Chris Duncan
— Maycee Barber vs. Karine Silva
— Nazim Sadykhov vs. Fares Ziam
— Marvin Vettori vs. Brunno Ferreira
— Edson Barboza vs. Jalin Turner
— Iwo Baraniewski vs. Ibo Aslan
— Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Antonio Trocoli
— Muhammad Naimov vs. Mairon Santos
Ahead of every UFC occasion in 2025, UFC reporter Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter), producer Dan Fernandes (@DanFernandes__) and author/editor Mike Johnston (@MikeyJ_MMA) will peruse the percentages and make 4 betting predictions utilizing fantasy {dollars}: one greatest wager, one favorite, one underdog and one dart throw wager. REMINDER: Sportsnet is dedicated to selling and educating audiences in regards to the significance of betting responsibly. Sources for accountable playing could be discovered HERE.
Cage Lock: McKinney vs. Duncan ends inside the space -1600
Favourite: Alexandre Pantoja -225
Underdog: Brandon Moreno +115
Dart Throw: Grant Dawson by determination +500
McKinney vs. Duncan ending inside the space looks as if a slam dunk. I’d be shocked if we see the scorecards in that one, however this sport has the capability to try this. … Pantoja is leagues forward of Van at this stage in his profession and until he has made some large good points, I don’t see many good paths to victory for Van. … I may also aspect with expertise and go together with Moreno as an underdog. While Taira has a difficult recreation, Moreno is in his prime and has solely been defeated by the perfect. … Dawson’s greatest path to victory in opposition to Torres is to neutralize him and hold him grounded. I used to be stunned to see that Dawson by determination was being provided at such lengthy odds with three of his final 4 wins being earned on the scorecards.
Cage Lock: Mansur Abdul-Malik -1000
Favourite: Alexandre Pantoja -225
Underdog: Brandon Moreno +115
Dart Throw: Grant Dawson by determination +500
Mansur Abdul-Malik is the largest betting favorite on the cardboard and sure makes an announcement with an emphatic victory on Saturday evening. There’s little MMA proof to counsel in any other case right here. … Alexandre Pantoja has crushed higher opposition than Joshua Van. While Van will pose some barely completely different challenges, notably with the short and explosive hanging, the champ will finally take this to the bottom and put on on his opponent over 5 rounds. … Brandon Moreno as an underdog in opposition to anybody within the division is nice worth. Moreno is a extra cerebral fighter than Tatsuro Taira and if he is ready to offset his opponent’s strengths, which historical past tells us he can, I anticipate the previous champ to get his hand raised. … Dawson is the oddsmakers favorite in his bout with Manuel Torres. And whereas all roads level to a end inside the space, I believe this conflict of kinds will flip this one into an MMA chess match to be selected scorecards. The truth you will get the favorite by determination at these odds is nice worth.
Cage Lock: Jalin Turner -300
Favourite: Alexandre Pantoja -225
Underdog: Petr Yan +350
Dart Throw: Nazim Sadykhov by submission +1000
Picking in opposition to Merab has been a shedding endeavour lately and in case you think about how the primary Dvalishvili-Yan matchup unfolded there’s not a lot to take a look at to assume the rematch can have a unique outcome. However, I view the second assembly as way more aggressive than these odds would counsel. I’m a giant believer in Yan and don’t assume he ought to be this large an underdog. … Josh Van turning into champ at age 24 can be an unbelievable story. Van is likely one of the most enjoyable fighters in your complete sport but when he can’t hold this battle on the toes he doesn’t have any likelihood and I see Pantoja with the ability to dictate the place this matchup takes place. … I like Turner’s mindset after a quick retirement and Barboza is nearing the tip of his profession. … I wouldn’t be stunned to see Sadykhov get takedowns in the event that they’re accessible and ZIam has been submitted up to now.
Three legs: McKinney vs. Duncan inside the space + Abdul-Malik + Turner
Parlay odds: -179 (to win: $55.84)
2025 STANDINGS AFTER 40 EVENTS
2025 winnings: +$221.12 (on $100 bets)
AARON’S RECORDS/TOTALS (80-77-3, +15.58 models)
Cage Lock: 31-7-2 (-$56.29)
Favourite: 22-18 (-$590.96)
Underdog: 18-21-1 (+$855.24)
Dart throw: 9-31 (+$1,350)
DAN’S RECORDS/TOTALS (84-71-5, -8.19 models)
Cage Lock: 35-5 (+$190.76)
Favourite: 26-13-1 (-$135.57)
Underdog: 20-19-1 (+$715.24)
Dart throw: 3-34-3 (-$1,590)
MIKE’S RECORDS/TOTALS (63-91-6, -31.02 models)
Cage Lock: 27-12-1 (-$336.87)
Favourite: 20-20 (-$595.51)
Underdog: 14-24-2 (+$140)
Dart throw: 2-35-3 (-$2,310)
Cage Lock: The choose deemed to be the wager most probably to win no matter what the percentages appear like. The Cage Locks parlay will mix Aaron’s, Dan’s and Mike’s respective greatest wager for every occasion.
Favourite: A fighter with successful odds shorter than -300 however not longer than -110. On chalkier playing cards with a dearth of accessible moneyline favourites that meet these standards, prop bets are allowed to be chosen.
Underdog: Any fighter with longer odds than their opponent’s.
Dart Throw: Any prop wager or moneyline wager with odds of +400 or longer.
(Betting odds above are by way of BetMGM, submitted at numerous instances all through week, and topic to alter previous to the fights)
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