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- Merab Dvalishvili isn't just doing nasty work as UFC champ — he's redefining it
Merab Dvalishvili isn't just doing nasty work as UFC champ — he's redefining it
If you're looking for the UFC's version of a relentless, no-days-off grind, look no further than Merab Dvalishvili, the bantamweight king who's treating his division like a personal playground and the title like a permanent accessory. Picture this: the man just went 25 brutal minutes with Cory Sandhagen at UFC 320, setting a new record with 20 takedowns in a single fight—a stat line that sounds more like a video game cheat code than reality—and then, with the adrenaline barely faded, he's already locked in for UFC 323 in December.It's the kind of schedule that would make most fighters wince, but for Merab, it's just another day at the office. He's not just defending his belt; he's launching a full-scale assault on the history books, eyeing a March booking and even dreaming of a summer slot during International Fight Week.This isn't just dominance; it's a statement, a declaration that he's here to run through the entire roster, one contender at a time, with the urgency of a man who believes rest is for the weak. Remember when the 135-pound division was the UFC's version of a stacked All-Star game? Just over a year ago, it was a murderer's row of talent, a deep pool where names like Marlon 'Chito' Vera, Jose Aldo, Petr Yan, Cory Sandhagen, Song Yadong, Henry Cejudo, Umar Nurmagomedov, Deiveson Figueiredo, and the flashy Sean O'Malley all jockeyed for position.It felt like a division where the belt would be a hot potato, changing hands with every main event, a testament to the sheer parity and skill on display. But fast forward to the fall of 2025, and that parity has evaporated, replaced by the suffocating reign of Dvalishvili.He's the big dog now, and everyone else is just a chew toy—not torn apart for good, but left intact for future rounds of punishment. It's a special kind of torture, a psychological and physical dismantling that he seems to relish.He once mentioned, with a creeping smile, that he can feel the exact moment an opponent breaks in the cage, and that feeling, that raw confirmation of his superiority, is his ultimate high. Since snatching the title from O'Malley at UFC 306 last fall, he's been on a death march, defending it three times already in 2025 alone.His upcoming December date with Petr Yan isn't just another fight; it's a historic opportunity to break the UFC's record for most title defenses in a single year. For Merab, that's the goal—to put the division on tumble dry and keep it spinning as long as humanly possible.He's not interested in moving up to challenge Alexander Volkanovski or dabbling in crossover boxing matches; his ambition is singular and terrifyingly simple: to keep beating bantamweights, over and over, until there's no one left to challenge the narrative of his invincibility. The rematch with Yan is a particularly juicy storyline.Back in 2023, their first encounter was a masterclass in pressure, with Merab doubling Yan up on strikes and scoring 11 takedowns on a staggering 49 attempts over 25 minutes. He's a maximalist when it comes to fight time, preferring to use every second of the clock, not out of ego, but out of a desire to fully impose his will.He even lamented finishing O'Malley in their June rematch, wishing he could have made 'Suga' Sean suffer for the full duration. That's the mindset we're dealing with—a fighter who views a quick finish as a missed opportunity for extended dominance.This kind of title run invites comparisons to legends. Tito Ortiz had a hellacious run in 2001, Chuck Liddell was a force in 2006, and Kamaru Usman was trucking dudes in 2021.More recently, Alex Pereira defended the light heavyweight title three times in 2024 under wild circumstances, stepping up on short notice and finishing everyone in his path. But even Pereira's training partner, Khalil Rountree, who presented his biggest challenge by lasting into the fourth round, offered a glimpse into Merab's unique brand of crazy.Rountree casually dropped in an interview that Dvalishvili sparred five rounds on the *morning* of the Sandhagen fight. Merab himself confirmed this on Ariel Helwani's show, admitting he went 10 total rounds on October 4th just for the hell of it and was still dancing in the octagon at the end of the night.That's not just preparation; it's a pathological love for the grind. With a nickname like 'The Machine,' it's no surprise he operates this way.He's a human, yes, but right now, he's operating in a league of his own, and he's determined to prove it as many times as the UFC's matchmakers will let him. Four title defenses in a single year? That's not just impressive; it's a statement to the entire sport.It's nasty work, brother. Absolutely nasty.
LU
Luna Everly123k2 days ago
there's a brutal kind of beauty in this relentless passion, like watching a force of nature that refuses to be tamed it’s almost poetic how he turns the cage into a canvas for his will
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JA
Jamie Lopez123k2 days ago
wait he sparred five rounds the morning of a title fight that's a different level of crazy idk how he does it
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