Title fights, freak endings, and a broadcast pivot—this one had everything. We open with the Paramount deal and why it matters: smarter promotion, earlier main-card start times, and a bigger on-ramp for new fans. Then the octagon delivers. Petr Yan puts on a clinic against Merab Dvalishvili, denying 27 of 29 shots, ripping the body, and flipping bantamweight from a pace problem to a game-planning puzzle. We walk through what he did, why it worked, and how it reshapes contenders and the immediate rematch debate.
Flyweight gets even wilder. Tatsuro Taira becomes the first to finish Brandon Moreno, then a freak injury ends Alexandre Pantoja’s reign in 26 seconds and hands Joshua Van the belt making him the second youngest champ in UFC history. We talk classification, fairness, and what should be next—Van vs Taira is the cleanest pairing with the highest ceiling while Pantoja heals. Along the way, we spotlight some emphatic finishes, Macy Barber’s smart pressure, Chris Duncan’s comeback grit, and Jan Blachowicz’s surreal run of draws that keeps him stuck between elite and uncertain.
We close by looking ahead. The first Paramount card stacks styles and stories: Justin Gaethje vs Paddy Pimblett, Amanda Nunes returning to meet Kayla Harrison, Sean O’Malley chasing a statement to set up Yan, and heavyweight chaos with Waldo Cortez Acosta vs Derrick Lewis. January teases more with Volkanovski vs Lopez 2 and violent chess at lightweight. The throughline is simple: better distribution plus clearer stakes equal a bigger, sharper UFC. If you love technical adjustments, real consequences, and cards that move divisions, you’ll feel right at home here.
Enjoyed the breakdown? Follow the show, share this episode with a fight friend, and drop your pick: run back Yan–Merab now or book Van–Taira first?
