Merab Dvalishvili title defenses: is this the greatest bantamweight run ever?

Records & accolades that define the run

Modern bantamweight is one of the deepest divisions in the sport, but Merab Dvalishvili’s title defenses are separating him from every other 135er in history. On paper, his résumé already looks like an all-time great’s.

• One of the first two Georgian UFC champions and a fixture in the men’s pound-for-pound top three.
• Fourteen-fight winning streak that includes wins over José Aldo, Petr Yan, Henry Cejudo, Sean O’Malley and Cory Sandhagen.
• Three title defenses in a single year (Umar Nurmagomedov, Sean O’Malley 2, Cory Sandhagen).
• Most takedowns in UFC history, pushing the all-time mark past 100 with a 20-takedown clinic against Sandhagen.

If he beats Yan again at UFC 323, Dvalishvili is expected to become the first UFC champion to record four successful title defenses in one calendar year, an absurd benchmark in a division where even one defense used to feel like a miracle.

Career timeline: from 0–2 start to historic champion

Dvalishvili’s story makes his current dominance even more striking. He entered the UFC in 2017 and dropped his first two bouts, including a heartbreaking last-second submission loss to Ricky Simón. Many prospects never recover from that kind of start.

Instead, he doubled down on his identity. Grinding wins over names like Terrion Ware, Casey Kenney and John Dodson established “The Machine” as a cardio monster and volume wrestler. The step up came with back-to-back wins over former featherweight king José Aldo and former bantamweight champion Petr Yan — victories that proved he could drown elite opposition over five rounds.

The belt finally came in September 2024, when he beat Sean O’Malley over five rounds in Riyadh to claim the UFC bantamweight title. Rather than defend once and sit, he embraced an old-school champion’s schedule: three defenses in 2025 and open talk about fighting a fourth time before the year ends.

How Merab Dvalishvili title defenses changed bantamweight

Umar Nurmagomedov: the nightmare stylistic matchup

Umar Nurmagomedov was supposed to be Merab’s worst possible matchup — a slick Dagestani wrestler with creative kicks and an unbeaten record. At UFC 311, Dvalishvili shut down the hype with relentless pressure, winning a clear decision over five rounds and breaking the UFC’s all-time takedown record in the process. It wasn’t just a title defense; it was a re-statement that Merab is the wrestler other wrestlers struggle with.

Sean O’Malley 2: from decision king to finisher

Critics had long labeled Dvalishvili a “decision machine”. In the June 2025 rematch with O’Malley at UFC 316, he smashed that stereotype. After mauling the former champion with pressure and mat returns, he secured a north-south choke in the third round for his first submission as champion. One of the sport’s biggest stars tapped, and Merab added a finishing threat to his reputation.

Cory Sandhagen: the 20-takedown clinic

Against Sandhagen at UFC 320, Merab produced one of the most dominant wrestling performances the division has ever seen. He chained level changes, fence wresting and mat returns to hit twenty takedowns, further extending his record total. Sandhagen is notoriously hard to control, which makes this performance a key data point when we talk about the greatest bantamweight title defenses of all time.

Style & tactics: why “The Machine” keeps winning

On the surface, Merab’s game looks simple: takedowns, pressure, cardio. In practice, his style is sophisticated and brutally efficient.

• Endless chain wrestling: He rarely shoots once. Every failed attempt flows into a re-shot, a trip, or a mat return against the fence.
• Cardio as a weapon: Opponents know that Merab will still be shooting in minute 24 the same way he did in minute 1, which forces bad decisions and rushed strikes.
• Safer striking at range: His boxing has improved enough to win minutes on the feet when opponents over-respect the takedown.
• Grappling evolution: The north-south choke against O’Malley showed that he’s not just controlling; he’s now actively hunting finishes once opponents are broken.

This package is especially deadly at bantamweight, where many elite fighters rely on movement and volume. Merab takes the space away, forces frequent defensive wrestling and punishes them for every scramble.

Notable fights that built the champion

Before the belt and the record-setting Merab Dvalishvili title defenses, there were key wins that shaped the champion he became.

• José Aldo: Proved he could shut down an all-time great striker over three rounds with pace and positional awareness.
• Petr Yan 1: Showed that his style works against a complete, well-rounded boxer-wrestler in five-round form.
• Henry Cejudo: Beating an Olympic gold medalist and two-division champ cemented his status as the division’s wrestling king.

These wins are the foundation under the belt — the reason his title reign feels like the natural endpoint of years of elite consistency.

State of play before UFC 323

Heading into the Yan rematch at UFC 323, Dvalishvili stands as the clear number one bantamweight and a legitimate candidate for the top pound-for-pound spot in the sport. A second win over Yan, combined with four successful defenses in a single year, would give him an argument as the greatest UFC bantamweight of all time.

Behind him, the queue is stacked: Umar still wants a rematch, Sandhagen remains elite despite the loss, and younger names like Mario Bautista, Adrian Yanez and others are climbing the ladder. For now, though, the division runs through one man — and the numbers from these Merab Dvalishvili title defenses back that up.

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