Merab Dvalishvili | |||||||||||||||
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Born | Tbilisi, Georgia | January 10, 1991||||||||||||||
Other names | The Machine | ||||||||||||||
Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) | ||||||||||||||
Weight | 135 lb (61 kg; 9 st 9 lb) | ||||||||||||||
Division | Bantamweight | ||||||||||||||
Reach | 68[1] in (173 cm) | ||||||||||||||
Fighting out of | Long Island, New York, U.S.[2] | ||||||||||||||
Team | Serra-Longo Fight Team (2013–present)[3] | ||||||||||||||
Trainer | Ray Longo and Matt Serra[2] | ||||||||||||||
Rank | Black belt in judo[4] | ||||||||||||||
Years active | 2014–present | ||||||||||||||
Mixed martial arts record | |||||||||||||||
Total | 21 | ||||||||||||||
Wins | 17 | ||||||||||||||
By knockout | 3 | ||||||||||||||
By submission | 1 | ||||||||||||||
By decision | 13 | ||||||||||||||
Losses | 4 | ||||||||||||||
By submission | 1 | ||||||||||||||
By decision | 3 | ||||||||||||||
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |||||||||||||||
Medal record
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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.[2]
Dvalishvili started his MMA career in 2014 and fought under various promotions, namely CFFC and the Ring of Combat. He amassed a record of 7–2 prior to competing in the UFC.[6]
Dvalishvili made his UFC debut on December 9, 2017, against Frankie Saenz at UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Ortega.[7] He lost the fight via split decision.[8]
His next fight came on April 21, 2018, at UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Lee against Ricky Simón. He lost the fight via technical submission at the final bell.[9] This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.[10] 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.[11]
Dvalishvili faced Terrion Ware on September 15, 2018, at UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Oleinik.[12] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[13]
Dvalishvili faced Brad Katona on May 4, 2019, at UFC Fight Night: Iaquinta vs. Cowboy.[14] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[15]
Dvalishvili faced Casey Kenney on February 15, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 167.[16] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[17]
Dvalishvili was scheduled to face Ray Borg on June 13, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Eye vs. Calvillo.[18] 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.[19] Dvalishvili was victorious via unanimous decision.[20]
Dvalishvili faced John Dodson on August 15, 2020, at UFC 252.[21] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[22]
Dvalishvili was expected to face Cody Stamann on December 5, 2020, at UFC on ESPN 19.[23] However on October 22, it was announced that Stamann pulled out due to undisclosed reasons,[24] and he was replaced by Raoni Barcelos.[25] However, Barcelos was removed from the contest due to a medical suspension related to his latest bout on November 7.[26] The bout between Dvalishvili and Stamann was reschedule for UFC Fight Night 184 on February 6, 2021.[27] 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.[28] 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.[29][30] On the day of the event, Askar was not medically cleared and the bout was cancelled.[31] The bout between Dvalishvili and Stamann was re-scheduled again to May 1, 2021, at UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Procházka.[32] Dvalishvili won the bout via unanimous decision.[33]
Dvalishvili faced Marlon Moraes on September 25, 2021, at UFC 266.[34] After being knocked down and nearly finished in the first round, Dvalishvili rallied and won the fight via TKO in round two. [35] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[36]
Dvalishvili faced former UFC Featherweight champion José Aldo on August 20, 2022, at UFC 278.[37] He won the bout via unanimous decision.[38]
Dvalishvili faced former UFC Bantamweight champion Petr Yan on March 11, 2023 at UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Dvalishvili.[39] He won the fight via unanimous decision. Dvalishvili broke the UFC record for most takedowns attempted in a bout in UFC history with 49 attempts.[40][41]
Davlishvili faced former UFC Flyweight and Bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo on February 17, 2024, at UFC 298.[42] In a bout where five takedowns were landed, Davlishvili won by unanimous decision.[43]
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.[44]
Dvalishvili fought in the main event of Fury Pro Grappling 2 on October 29, 2021, and lost a unanimous decision to Kevin Dantzler.[45]
Dvalishvili competed against Darren Branch in the main event of High Rollerz 23 on January 21, 2023.[46] He won the match by submission, with a choke from kesa-gatame.[47]
21 matches | 17 wins | 4 losses |
By knockout | 3 | 0 |
By submission | 1 | 1 |
By decision | 13 | 3 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 17–4 | Henry Cejudo | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 298 | February 17, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Anaheim, California, United States | |
Win | 16–4 | Petr Yan | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Dvalishvili | March 11, 2023 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Win | 15–4 | José Aldo | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 278 | August 20, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States | |
Win | 14–4 | Marlon Moraes | TKO (punches) | UFC 266 | September 25, 2021 | 2 | 4:25 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
Win | 13–4 | Cody Stamann | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Procházka | May 1, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Win | 12–4 | John Dodson | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 252 | August 15, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Win | 11–4 | Gustavo Lopez | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Eye vs. Calvillo | June 13, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (140 lb) bout. |
Win | 10–4 | Casey Kenney | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Anderson vs. Błachowicz 2 | February 15, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States | |
Win | 9–4 | Brad Katona | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Iaquinta vs. Cowboy | May 4, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | |
Win | 8–4 | Terrion Ware | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Oleinik | September 15, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Moscow, Russia | |
Loss | 7–4 | Ricky Simón | Technical Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Lee | April 21, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Fight of the Night. |
Loss | 7–3 | Frankie Saenz | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Ortega | December 9, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Fresno, California, United States | |
Win | 7–2 | Raufeon Stots | KO (spinning backfist) | Ring of Combat 59 | June 2, 2017 | 1 | 0:15 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Defended the Ring of Combat Bantamweight Championship. |
Win | 6–2 | Sukhrob Aydarbekov | Submission (armbar) | Ring of Combat 58 | February 24, 2017 | 2 | 4:14 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Won the vacant Ring of Combat Bantamweight Championship. |
Win | 5–2 | Tony Gravely | Decision (split) | Ring of Combat 57 | November 18, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
Win | 4–2 | Paul Grant | Decision (unanimous) | Ring of Combat 56 | September 23, 2016 | 3 | 4:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Return to Bantamweight. |
Win | 3–2 | Matt Tullos | Decision (unanimous) | CES MMA 36 | June 10, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States | Featherweight debut. |
Win | 2–2 | Geoffrey Then | Decision (unanimous) | CES MMA 34 | April 1, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States | |
Loss | 1–2 | Ricky Bandejas | Decision (unanimous) | CFFC 43 | November 1, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
Win | 1–1 | Dennis Dombrow | TKO (punches) | Ring of Combat 49 | September 19, 2014 | 3 | 0:50 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
Loss | 0–1 | Darren Mima | Decision (majority) | Ring of Combat 47 | January 24, 2014 | 3 | 4:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Bantamweight debut. |