| Merab Dvalishvili | |
| Other Names: | The Machine |
| Nationality: | Georgian American |
| Birth Date: | 10 January 1991 |
| Birth Place: | Tbilisi, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Fighting Out Of: | Long Island, New York, U.S.[1] |
| Weight Lb: | 135 |
| Weight Class: | Bantamweight |
| Reach In: | 68[2] |
| Rank: | Black belt in judo[3] |
| Stance: | Orthodox |
| Team: | Serra-Longo Fight Team (2013–present)[4] |
| Trainer: | Ray Longo and Matt Serra |
| Years Active: | 2014–present |
| Mma Kowin: | 3 |
| Mma Subwin: | 1 |
| Mma Decwin: | 13 |
| Mma Subloss: | 1 |
| Mma Decloss: | 3 |
| Sherdog: | 157355 |
Merab Dvalishvili (Georgian: მერაბ დვალიშვილი; born January 10, 1991) is a Georgian professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Bantamweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of February 20, 2024, he is #1 in the UFC bantamweight rankings.[5]
Dvalishvili was born in Tbilisi, Georgian SSR and grew up in an independent Georgia. He started training at a young age, training in qartuli chidaoba (traditional wrestling), khridoli (traditional fighting), sambo, and judo for self-defense. He moved to the United States when he was 21 years old to become a professional MMA fighter. Once in America, he began to train under Ray Longo and Matt Serra.
Dvalishvili started his MMA career in 2014. He fought under various promotions, namely CFFC losing his debut and the Ring of Combat before getting signed on Dana White Looking for a Fight after defending his ROC title, amassing a record of 7–2 before competing in the UFC.[6]
On June 2, 2017, Dvalishvili's matchup against fellow prospect Raufeon Stots was showcased on an episode of 'Dana White: Lookin' for a Fight'. He won this contest via spinning backfist KO 15 seconds into the first round and was subsequently awarded a contract by UFC President Dana White.[7]
Dvalishvili made his UFC debut on December 9, 2017, against Frankie Saenz at .[8] He lost the fight via split decision.[9]
His next fight came on April 21, 2018, at against Ricky Simón. He lost the fight via technical submission at the final bell.[10] This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.[11] Dvalishvili's team appealed the result on the grounds that he was not unconscious at the end of the round, but the appeal was denied.[12]
Dvalishvili faced Terrion Ware on September 15, 2018, at .[13] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[14]
Dvalishvili faced Brad Katona on May 4, 2019, at .[15] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[16]
Dvalishvili faced Casey Kenney on February 15, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 167.[17] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[18]
Dvalishvili was scheduled to face Ray Borg on June 13, 2020, at .[19] However, on June 11, 2020, it was reported that Borg withdrew from the bout and he was replaced by promotional newcomer Gustavo Lopez in a catchweight bout of 140 pounds.[20] Dvalishvili was victorious via unanimous decision.[21]
Dvalishvili faced John Dodson on August 15, 2020, at UFC 252.[22] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[23]
Dvalishvili was expected to face Cody Stamann on December 5, 2020, at UFC on ESPN 19.[24] However, on October 22, it was announced that Stamann pulled out due to undisclosed reasons,[25] and he was replaced by Raoni Barcelos.[26] However, Barcelos was removed from the contest due to a medical suspension related to his latest bout on November 7.[27] The bout between Dvalishvili and Stamann was rescheduled for UFC Fight Night 184 on February 6, 2021.[28] In turn, in mid-January, Dvalishvili was forced to pull out from the bout due to the struggle of the after-effects of a COVID-19 complication, and he was replaced by Andre Ewell.[29] After a positive test for COVID-19, Ewell was pulled from the event and replaced by promotional newcomer Askar Askar, with the contest expected to take place at featherweight.[30] [31] On the day of the event, Askar was not medically cleared and the bout was canceled.[32] The bout between Dvalishvili and Stamann was rescheduled again to May 1, 2021, at .[33] Dvalishvili won the bout via unanimous decision.[34]
Dvalishvili faced Marlon Moraes on September 25, 2021, at UFC 266.[35] After being knocked down and nearly finished in the first round, Dvalishvili rallied and won the fight via TKO in round two. [36] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[37]
Dvalishvili faced former UFC Featherweight champion José Aldo on August 20, 2022, at UFC 278.[38] He won the bout via unanimous decision.[39]
Dvalishvili faced former UFC Bantamweight champion Petr Yan on March 11, 2023, at .[40] He won the fight via unanimous decision. Dvalishvili, breaking the UFC record for most takedowns attempted in a single bout with 49 attempts.[41] [42]
Dvalishvili faced former UFC Flyweight and Bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo on February 17, 2024, at UFC 298.[43] In a bout where five takedowns were landed, Dvalishvili won by unanimous decision.[44]
Dvalishvili is scheduled to face UFC Bantamweight Champion Sean O'Malley for the title on September 14, 2024 at UFC 306.[45]
Dvalishvili is known for having exceptional cardiovascular fitness and muscular endurance. This enables him to compete at a high-pace and attempt a large amount of takedowns for the duration of a contest without major adverse effects to his speed, technique or overall demeanour. Dvalishvili currently ranks at #3 for most takedowns in UFC history, with 79 landed during his time in the promotion. [46]
Dvalishvili often utilises attacks in the clinch, landing knees to the thighs of his opponents up against the cage wall or short punches in transitions. In the open space he will often threaten with spinning attacks, such as the spinning back-kick or backfist whilst also utilising the persistent threat of his takedowns to land punches on his opponent.
In 2019, Dvalishvili finished second in the World Sambo Championships in South Korea. Dvalishvili competed in combat sambo at 68 kilograms. He lost in the finals to Russia's Stepan Kobenov.[47]
Dvalishvili fought in the main event of Fury Pro Grappling 2 on October 29, 2021, and lost a unanimous decision to Kevin Dantzler.[48]
Dvalishvili competed against Darren Branch in the main event of High Rollerz 23 on January 21, 2023.[49] He won the match by submission, with a choke from Kesa-gatame.[50]
|-|Win|align=center|17–4|Henry Cejudo|Decision (unanimous)|UFC 298||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Anaheim, California, United States||-|Win|align=center|16–4|Petr Yan|Decision (unanimous)|||align=center|5|align=center|5:00|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center|15–4|José Aldo|Decision (unanimous)|UFC 278||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Salt Lake City, Utah, United States||-|Win|align=center|14–4|Marlon Moraes|TKO (punches)|UFC 266 ||align=center|2|align=center|4:25|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center|13–4|Cody Stamann|Decision (unanimous)| ||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center|12–4|John Dodson|Decision (unanimous)|UFC 252||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center|11–4|Gustavo Lopez|Decision (unanimous)|||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center|10–4|Casey Kenney|Decision (unanimous)| ||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States||-|Win|align=center|9–4|Brad Katona|Decision (unanimous)| ||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Ottawa, Ontario, Canada||-|Win|align=center|8–4|Terrion Ware|Decision (unanimous)|||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Moscow, Russia||-|Loss|align=center|7–4|Ricky Simón|Technical Submission (guillotine choke)|||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States||-|Loss|align=center|7–3|Frankie Saenz|Decision (split)|||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Fresno, California, United States||-|Win|align=center|7–2|Raufeon Stots|KO (spinning backfist)|Ring of Combat 59||align=center|1|align=center|0:15|Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States||-|Win|align=center|6–2|Sukhrob Aydarbekov|Submission (armbar)|Ring of Combat 58||align=center|2|align=center|4:14|Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States||-|Win|align=center|5–2|Tony Gravely|Decision (split)|Ring of Combat 57||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States||-|Win|align=center|4–2|Paul Grant|Decision (unanimous)|Ring of Combat 56||align=center|3|align=center|4:00|Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States||-|Win|align=center|3–2|Matt Tullos|Decision (unanimous)|CES MMA 36||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States||-|Win|align=center|2–2|Geoffrey Then|Decision (unanimous)|CES MMA 34||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States||-|Loss|align=center|1–2|Ricky Bandejas|Decision (unanimous)|CFFC 43||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States||-|Win|align=center|1–1|Dennis Dombrow|TKO (punches)|Ring of Combat 49||align=center|3|align=center|0:50|Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States||-|Loss|align=center|0–1|Darren Mima|Decision (majority)|Ring of Combat 47||align=center|3|align=center|4:00|Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States||-|}[54]