re: UFC 323: Merab vs Yan (12/6/25, 5PM CT)

I actually felt kinda bad for Merab. He's such a jolly guy, with the broken English and all. 'I just want everybody entertainment.' Yan wrecked his face, but Merab was still upbeat afterward.

Things get exposed in a loss too--that part where everyone was cheering when Merab was holding Yan up in the air, ready to throw him down. Some say Merab swung the judges in his favor with his showboating in the Umar Nurmagomedov fight. But last night Yan was just waiting to hit the mat and get right back up again, which he did.

Perfect performance from Yan, aside from shooting a few times too many when it was a bad idea. But maybe that was just keeping Merab guessing, a taste of his own medicine. Amazing to reclaim the championship belt after 5 years. What a fighter.

Yan's win is also a testament to how hard it is to beat Merab. Have to pitch a perfect game, stuff 24 out of 26 takedown attempts, have cardio for all 5.

Have to have perfect takedown defense to get the chance to hurt Merab standing. Yan did. Merab's striking is not the best, and he has a weak spot getting hit with body kicks. It's like in video games where the final boss has one weak spot that you have to target.

Overall wild and entertaining card, great card last night On to Paramount.