Merab Dvalishvili: The Pride of Georgia

Merab Dvalishvili was born on January 10, 1991, in Tbilisi, Georgia. His parents are Amiran and Liana Dvalishvili. As a child, standing at 1.68 meters tall, he began training in traditional Georgian wrestling (qartuli chidaoba and khridoli), sambo, and judo for self-defense. At the age of 21, he moved to the United States to pursue his career as an MMA fighter. There, he started training under Ray Longo and Matt Serra.

Dvalishvili began his professional MMA career in 2014. His career had a rocky start, as he lost his first professional fight at Ring of Combat 47. However, he went on to win several matches in a row, which earned him a contract with the UFC in 2017. Before joining the UFC, Dvalishvili had to overcome numerous challenges, including a lack of sponsors and the need to work hard construction jobs for seven years while simultaneously training for his fights.

Dvalishvili is known for his exceptional endurance and muscular stamina. This allows him to compete at a high pace and execute a large number of takedowns throughout a fight without compromising his speed, technique, or overall performance. Dvalishvili holds the UFC record for the most takedowns performed in history—92 takedowns during his career.

His diverse background in various martial arts gives him an advantage in the UFC. His ability to execute different fighting styles allows him to time his moves perfectly, enabling him to outmaneuver opponents with ease. Dvalishvili's precisely timed techniques also allow him to perform moves near the cage, an area most fighters try to avoid. He combines a lead right-hand position with a stumbling strike, another move that gives him an edge over other fighters.

Dvalishvili often utilizes clinch attacks, delivering knees to his opponents' thighs against the cage or short strikes during transitions. In open space, he frequently threatens with spinning attacks, such as spinning backfists or spinning kicks, while maintaining a persistent takedown threat to land strikes on his opponents. This consistent pressure and takedown-oriented style have been the key to his success in the bantamweight division. This unique approach has enabled him to defeat opponents with varying fighting styles, ranging from strikers to grapplers.

Since his 2024 match against Henry Cejudo, Dvalishvili has also become known for his showmanship during fights. Some examples of this include his conversation with Mark Zuckerberg while grappling with Cejudo, kissing Sean O'Malley on the head at the end of a round, and mocking Umar Nurmagomedov after a successful takedown at the end of their fight. This demonstrates his growing confidence and ability to psychologically affect his opponents.

Dvalishvili's fighting style has significantly evolved throughout his career. Initially, he focused primarily on wrestling and takedowns, but over time he has added striking techniques and showmanship to his arsenal. This versatility makes him a dangerous opponent for anyone in the bantamweight division.

Sean O’Malley

In September 2024, Dvalishvili won the UFC bantamweight championship title by unanimous decision against Sean O’Malley at the Riyadh Season Noche UFC: O'Malley v Dvalishvili event. This marked the pinnacle of Dvalishvili's career, making him the second UFC champion of Georgian origin, following Ilia Topuria, who won the featherweight title earlier that year.

Umar Nurmagomedov

In January 2025, Dvalishvili defended his title in a fight against the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311. It was a tough fight where Dvalishvili showcased his endurance and fighting spirit. He won the match by unanimous decision and simultaneously broke Georges St-Pierre’s record for the most takedowns in UFC history. The win over Nurmagomedov was also significant because it called into question the dominance of Dagestani wrestlers in the UFC. Dvalishvili showed that representatives from other wrestling schools can compete and win at the highest level. Unfortunately, by the time of the match, Dvalishvili had previously injured his leg and back, but this did not prevent him from achieving victory.

Dvalishvili has achieved significant success in the UFC. He is the current UFC bantamweight champion, with one successful title defense. He is the second Georgian-born champion in UFC history. In addition, he has earned the “Performance of the Night” award for his victory over Marlon Moraes and the “Fight of the Night” award for his bouts against Ricky Simón and Umar Nurmagomedov.

Dvalishvili has 19 wins and 4 losses in MMA. He has won the majority of his matches by decision (15), some by knockout (3), and one by submission. He has lost to Darren Mima, Ricky Bandejas, Frankie Saenz, and Ricky Simon.

Dvalishvili holds the UFC bantamweight division's record for the most wins by unanimous decision (11) and the longest win streak (12). He also has the second-highest percentage of wins by decision in UFC history (11 wins by decision / 12 wins: 91.7%). Additionally, he holds the UFC bantamweight division's record for the most wins by decision (11), and he shares the UFC history record for the most wins by unanimous decision (11) with Rafael dos Anjos and Belal Muhammad.

Dvalishvili's next opponent is not yet confirmed, but he has several possibilities. He could fight other top fighters like Deiveson Figueiredo, Marlon Vera, and Song Yadong. Matches with Sean O'Malley and Petr Yan are also possible, both of whom he has previously defeated. Additionally, a potential match with Alexandre Pantoja has been mentioned.

Dvalishvili is an inspiring example of an athlete who has reached the top through hard work and dedication. His story is especially interesting to Estonians, as he comes from a small country and has managed to achieve success on the world's biggest MMA stage. Dvalishvili is a role model for anyone who dreams big and is willing to work hard to achieve their goals.

Merab “The Machine” Dvalishvili has risen from humble beginnings in Georgia to the top of the UFC bantamweight division. His journey is full of hard work, dedication, and resilience. From working in construction to winning the UFC championship, Dvalishvili has shown that anything is possible with willpower and determination. His unique fighting style, based on endurance and takedowns, has made him a dangerous opponent for anyone in the division. Dvalishvili is an inspiration to young athletes around the world, especially those from small countries, who dream of big achievements. His future in the UFC is bright and full of excitement. Potential matchups with other top fighters, including rematches with O'Malley and Yan, will surely provide fans with unforgettable experiences.