UFC 323 turned out to be one of the wildest cards of the year, delivering big upsets, painful injuries, and a dramatic championship shake-up. The event took place on December 6 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and the main story of the night was Petr Yan reclaiming the bantamweight title after a dominant five-round performance against Merab Dvalishvili.
The co-main event ended even more unexpectedly. Joshua Van became the new flyweight champion after Alexandre Pantoja suffered a brutal arm injury just 26 seconds into the fight — one of the fastest and strangest title-fight endings in UFC history.
With 15 fights on the card and over 18,000 fans in attendance, UFC 323 closed out the 2025 PPV calendar in style. Below is a clean breakdown of all results, highlights, bonuses, and estimated fighter payouts.
Main Card Results: Yan Shocks Dvalishvili, Two New Champions
The main card at UFC 323 had a little bit of everything: controversy, breakout performances, a heartbreaking injury, and a long-awaited redemption story. It was the kind of lineup that reminded fans why the final PPV of the year always carries extra weight. Every fight felt meaningful, and each matchup added fuel to the narrative heading into 2026.
Jan Blachowicz vs. Bogdan Guskov – Majority Draw
Scores: 29-28 Blachowicz, 28-28, 28-28
The opening fight of the main card set the tone for a dramatic evening. Blachowicz and Guskov traded heavy shots for three rounds, with Guskov constantly moving forward and forcing exchanges. Blachowicz had his best moment late in the third when he dropped Guskov with a clean right hand, but Guskov recovered quickly and kept swinging back. Even with the knockdown, two judges still viewed the contest as even, resulting in a majority draw.
Guskov remains unbeaten, while Blachowicz, the former champ, felt he had done enough to edge out the win — adding a layer of tension to what might become a rematch-worthy rivalry.
Payton Talbott def. Henry Cejudo (UD 30-27 x3)
This fight felt like a changing of the guard. Payton Talbott, at only 25 years old, put on the most polished performance of his young career. He stayed composed, picked his shots, and defended nearly every takedown attempt from one of the greatest wrestlers in the division’s history.
Cejudo, a former two-division champion and Olympic gold medalist, simply couldn’t match Talbott’s speed or volume. After three clean rounds for the rising contender, Cejudo took the microphone and officially announced his retirement. It was a respectful passing-of-the-torch moment — one that clearly signals the bantamweight division’s next wave of talent.
Tatsuro Taira def. Brandon Moreno (TKO, R2 2:24)
Taira has been climbing the ranks quietly, but this win puts him firmly in the spotlight. Against former flyweight champion Brandon Moreno, Taira showcased patience and precision. He timed Moreno’s entries, got him to the mat, and unleashed a barrage of ground strikes that forced the stoppage halfway into Round 2.
For Moreno, it marks another setback in a tough stretch, but for Taira, it’s the kind of signature win that pushes a fighter into undeniable title contention. If he wasn’t on the shortlist for a 2026 title shot before, he certainly is now.
Flyweight Title: Joshua Van def. Alexandre Pantoja (TKO injury, R1 0:26)
This wasn’t the type of ending anyone hoped for. Early in the opening scramble, Pantoja’s arm gave out in a horrific way, immediately ending the fight. Joshua Van showed maturity beyond his 23 years, checking on Pantoja right away before the belt was wrapped around his waist.
While the victory came under unfortunate circumstances, it still makes Van the second-youngest champion in UFC history — and instantly one of the most talked-about fighters heading into the new year. A rematch seems inevitable once Pantoja recovers.
Bantamweight Title: Petr Yan def. Merab Dvalishvili (UD 49-46, 49-46, 48-47)
Petr Yan finally looked like the fighter fans had been waiting to see again. Against one of the most relentless wrestlers in UFC history, Yan’s takedown defense was nearly flawless, stuffing 18 of 19 attempts.
He kept the fight standing, punished Merab with sharp counters, and controlled the pace from the first round to the last. The win snaps Merab’s 14-fight winning streak and marks Yan’s return to the top of the bantamweight mountain. Inside the Octagon, Yan shouted, “No machine tonight!” — a statement that said everything about his long road back to UFC gold.
Prelims & Early Prelims: Fast Finishes All Night
Even before the main card kicked off, the undercard delivered nonstop action. Several fighters made big statements with early finishes, while a couple of veterans faced tough setbacks.
Prelims:
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Manuel Torres def. Grant Dawson (TKO, R1 2:25)
Torres overwhelmed Dawson with a barrage of ground strikes, scoring one of the cleaner stoppages of the night. -
Chris Duncan def. Terrance McKinney (Anaconda choke, R1 2:30)
Duncan locked in a slick submission just moments after a wild scramble, earning one of his most impressive UFC wins yet. -
Maycee Barber def. Karine Silva (UD)
Barber returned from a long layoff with a composed performance, controlling the pace and showing improved striking discipline. -
Fares Ziam def. Nazim Sadykhov (TKO, R2 4:59)
Ziam poured on the pressure late in the round, forcing the ref to step in just before the horn. A strong showcase of volume and timing.
Early Prelims:
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Brunno Ferreira def. Marvin Vettori (UD) — missed weight by 3 lbs
Despite the weight miss, Ferreira fought a disciplined match and outpointed the former title challenger. -
Jalin Turner def. Edson Barboza (TKO, R1 2:24)
Turner landed a crushing knee that sent Barboza crashing down — one of the cleanest highlight finishes of the event. -
Iwo Baraniewski def. Ibo Aslan (KO, R1 1:29)
A dream debut for Baraniewski, who needed less than 90 seconds to flatten Aslan. -
Mansur Abdul-Malik def. Antonio Trocoli (Guillotine, R1 1:09)
Abdul-Malik wasted no time securing a tight guillotine to earn a quick submission victory. -
Mairon Santos def. Muhammad Naimov (KO, R3 0:21) — missed weight by 1.5 lbs
Santos came alive in the final round, landing a powerful shot that ended the fight instantly.
Post-Fight Bonuses: $50K Each
Dana White handed out the standard $50,000 bonuses to the night’s biggest performers:
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Fight of the Night: Petr Yan vs. Merab Dvalishvili
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Performance of the Night: Manuel Torres, Iwo Baraniewski, Jalin Turner, Tatsuro Taira
Yan and Merab both leave Las Vegas with an extra $50K on top of their main event checks, rounding out a chaotic but unforgettable night at UFC 323.
Estimated Fighter Payouts: How Much Did Each Fighter Earn at UFC 323?
UFC 323 wasn’t just a night of big fights — it was also a huge payday for several of the promotion’s top names. While the UFC keeps official fighter salaries confidential, industry insiders, past commission reports, and typical PPV structures give us a reliable picture of what each athlete likely earned.
Champions and main-event fighters usually receive a mix of base pay, win bonuses, locker-room bonuses, PPV revenue shares, and sponsorship deals. Lower-card fighters rely much more on their base pay and small sponsorship checks, but performance bonuses can instantly double or triple their income.
Below is a deeper breakdown of what the UFC 323 fighters likely took home — and why their totals look the way they do.
⭐ Petr Yan – Estimated $1.45M to $1.85M
Base Pay: $500K
Win Bonus: $500K
PPV & Sponsors: $400K–$800K
Bonus: $50K (Fight of the Night)
Yan reclaimed the bantamweight title — and the top paycheck of the night. Because UFC champions typically earn a percentage of PPV buys, Yan’s backend share likely pushed him well over the $1.5 million mark. His dramatic performance and the fan interest in this rematch added extra weight to his PPV earnings.
⭐ Merab Dvalishvili – Estimated $1.25M to $2.35M
Base Pay: $500K–$800K
PPV & Sponsors: $700K–$1.5M
Bonus: $50K (Fight of the Night)
Even in defeat, Merab made massive money. Champions don’t receive win bonuses, but they do get the largest PPV split on the card. This was the last fight of a record-breaking 2025 for Merab, and the UFC rewarded that with a strong contract. Between PPV points and his FOTN bonus, he could’ve out-earned Yan despite losing the belt.
⭐ Joshua Van – Estimated $500K to $900K
Base Pay: $100K–$200K
Win Bonus: $100K–$200K
PPV/Sponsors: $300K–$500K
Van may only be 23, but becoming champion instantly transforms his financial future. This was his biggest paycheck ever, and as a new titleholder, his contract now automatically escalates. His sponsorship income will also jump significantly in his next fight.
⭐ Alexandre Pantoja – Estimated $700K to $1M
Base Pay: $400K–$600K
PPV/Sponsors: $300K–$400K
A heartbreaking ending for Pantoja, but financially, he still earned a top-tier payout. As champion, he received his share of PPV buys regardless of the injury. Once he returns, he’ll likely remain near the top of the flyweight salary ladder.
Tatsuro Taira – Estimated $200K to $250K
Base Pay: $50K
Win Bonus: $50K
Sponsors/Backend: $50K–$100K
Bonus: $50K (Performance of the Night)
Taira had the biggest career payday of his life. His POTN bonus alone doubled his base salary, and a future title shot would massively increase his contract.
Brandon Moreno – Estimated $250K to $300K
Base Pay: $150K
Sponsors: $100K–$150K
Moreno is a fan favorite and former champion, which keeps his pay comfortably above most top-10 fighters. Even without PPV points, he consistently brings in strong sponsorship revenue.
Payton Talbott – Estimated $100K to $130K
Base Pay: $40K
Win Bonus: $40K
Sponsors: $20K–$50K
Talbott’s clean win over Cejudo came with a nice financial bump. Expect his next contract to jump significantly if he continues his rise.
Henry Cejudo – Estimated $300K to $400K
Base Pay: $200K
Sponsors: $100K–$200K
Cejudo didn’t get a win bonus, but he still commands high base pay due to his legendary résumé. Retirement means this was likely the last big payout of his career.
Jan Blachowicz – Estimated $200K to $250K
Base Pay: $150K
Sponsors: $50K–$100K
Draws don’t come with win bonuses, but Jan still earned strong veteran money thanks to his former-champ status.
Bogdan Guskov – Estimated $100K to $130K
Base Pay: $80K
Sponsors: $20K–$50K
For an undefeated fighter still rising through the rankings, this was one of Guskov’s biggest nights financially.
Manuel Torres – Estimated $100K
Base Pay: $20K
Win Bonus: $20K
Sponsors: $10K
Bonus: $50K (Performance of the Night)
Torres quadrupled his income thanks to a clinical first-round TKO and his $50K bonus.
Jalin Turner – Estimated $240K to $260K
Base Pay: $80K
Win Bonus: $80K
Sponsors: $30K–$50K
Bonus: $50K (Performance of the Night)
Turner’s highlight-reel finish over Barboza landed him one of the most complete paydays of his career.
Iwo Baraniewski – Estimated $79K
Base Pay: $12K
Win Bonus: $12K
Sponsors: $5K
Bonus: $50K (Performance of the Night)
A dream debut — the $50K bonus instantly turned a $24K paycheck into a nearly $80K haul.
Brunno Ferreira – Estimated $35K*
Base Pay: $15K
Win Bonus: $15K
Sponsors: $10K
Penalty: –20% for missing weight
Ferreira won the fight but paid the price for missing weight by three pounds, giving up 20% of his purse.
Mairon Santos – Estimated $26K*
Base Pay: $12K
Win Bonus: $12K
Sponsors: $5K
Penalty: –20% for missing weight
Another weight miss meant Santos took home far less than he could have, even with his third-round knockout.
Other Prelim Fighters – Estimated $40K to $80K each
Names like Chris Duncan, Maycee Barber, and Fares Ziam didn’t receive bonuses, but their base pay plus win money likely placed them in the $40K–$80K range.
Overall Payout Summary
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Top Earner: Merab or Yan (depending on PPV points)
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Biggest Bonus Night: Iwo Baraniewski (nearly 4× his pay)
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Lowest Paid: Early-prelim fighters at $12K base pay
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Most Impactful Payday: Joshua Van — first championship check of his career
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Most Costly Night: Brunno Ferreira & Mairon Santos, who both lost 20% for missing weight
With new champions crowned and several rising stars making big financial jumps, UFC 323 closed the year with both competitive and financial fireworks.
Final Takeaway
UFC 323 delivered drama from start to finish. Petr Yan returned to champion status, Joshua Van made history with one of the strangest title wins ever, and several rising stars made their mark heading into 2026.
Fans are already calling for Yan vs. Merab 3, and the flyweight division now has a shocking new storyline with Joshua Van’s unexpected title win.
