Merab Dvalishvili

A relentless cardio/wrestling machine who dethroned Sean O'Malley and has defended the bantamweight title three times as of October 2025.

Merab Dvalishvili was born on 10 January 1991 in Tbilisi, Georgia, and developed an athletic base through judo and wrestling in a country with a strong tradition in those disciplines, before transitioning to combat sambo and moving to the United States at 21 to pursue a career in mixed martial arts, training under coach Ray Longo alongside UFC legend Matt Serra. Dvalishvili began his UFC career with back-to-back losses in 2017, but rebounded to build a 14-fight winning streak, the fourth-longest in UFC history, defeating four former champions along the way, including José Aldo, Petr Yan, Henry Cejudo, and Sean O'Malley. Dvalishvili, nicknamed "The Machine" for his relentless pace and exceptional cardio, won the UFC Bantamweight Championship, becoming the first Georgian-born champion in UFC history and reaching the top of the men's pound-for-pound rankings. Dvalishvili has continued to dominate the bantamweight division, renowned for his suffocating wrestling and unmatched work rate across five-round championship fights, and remains one of the most avoided fighters in the sport's lighter weight classes.

Dvalishvili is known for his exceptional cardio, relentless pace, and high-volume striking approach. He combines effective wrestling with constant movement and pressure, overwhelming opponents with his work rate and conditioning. His ability to maintain an intense pace for entire fights while mixing takedowns with striking makes him a difficult matchup for most bantamweights.

Dvalishvili has helped establish Georgia as a legitimate force in modern MMA alongside fellow Georgian fighter Ilia Topuria.

• UFC Bantamweight Champion 2024-present
• most UFC career takedowns landed (119+)
• tied for most consecutive UFC Bantamweight title defenses (3)