All articles tagged with #merab dvalishvili
The article highlights the top fighters of 2025 in UFC, emphasizing Merab Dvalishvili's record-breaking year, Joshua Van's rise to flyweight champion, Islam Makhachev's dominance, Waldo Cortes Acosta's breakout, and Valentina Shevchenko's impressive title defenses, showcasing a year of remarkable performances and career milestones.
Umar Nurmagomedov emphasizes that his rivalry with Merab Dvalishvili is not personal and is confident about a future rematch, despite Dvalishvili's dismissive attitude. Nurmagomedov is preparing for his upcoming fight against Mario Bautista and hopes to stay active in the UFC, potentially fighting again early 2026 if both he and Dvalishvili win their next bouts.
Dana White initially doubted UFC champion Merab Dvalishvili due to his perceived foolishness, but after his impressive four-title defenses in a year and a 14-fight winning streak, White has become very supportive and proud of his accomplishments.
Dana White has warmed up to UFC champion Merab Dvalishvili, praising his mentality and impressive title defenses, including a quick turnaround for UFC 323, which could make him one of the most successful fighters in a single year. White's opinion shifted from skepticism to admiration as Dvalishvili aims to make history, highlighting his evolution as a fighter and champion.
Merab Dvalishvili was surprised to learn he would headline UFC 323 during a live interview, just 63 days after his recent dominant win, and plans to fight again in March, aiming to defend his title multiple times in a year.
UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili will rematch Petr Yan at UFC 323 on December 6, aiming to set a record for most title defenses in a year, with the event also featuring a flyweight title fight between Alexandre Pantoja and Joshua Van.
Merab Dvalishvili's dominant win at UFC 320 has sparked debate over MMA scoring rules, with some fans and boxer Ryan Garcia suggesting that defensive actions like stuffing takedowns should be rewarded with points, challenging the current offense-focused judging criteria.
UFC 320 at T-Mobile Arena featured notable fights including Joe Pyfer's submission win, Youssef Zalal's victory over Josh Emmett, Jiri Prochazka's knockout, Merab Dvalishvili's record-tying title defense, and Alex Pereira's quick knockout of Magomed Ankalaev, showcasing a night of intense MMA action.
Merab Dvalishvili defended his UFC bantamweight title with a dominant five-round unanimous decision over Cory Sandhagen, showcasing relentless pressure and ground control, leading to questions about his dominance and potential GOAT status in the division.
Henry Cejudo predicts Cory Sandhagen will defeat Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 320, praising Sandhagen's striking and technique, and suggests Dvalishvili's fight should headline the event instead of the current main event. Cejudo also highlights Dvalishvili's status as a top bantamweight and the importance of composure for Sandhagen to succeed.
Merab Dvalishvili successfully made weight after a concerning delay at the UFC 320 weigh-ins, ensuring his fight against Cory Sandhagen remains scheduled, amidst other weigh-in adjustments and concerns about fight readiness.
After losing to Merab Dvalishvili, Sean O'Malley offered to fight Cory Sandhagen on short notice at UFC 318, but the UFC prioritized the title fight between Dvalishvili and Sandhagen. O'Malley views Sandhagen as a highly skilled opponent and believes a future fight between them is likely, while also sharing his insights on the upcoming title bout.
Petr Yan, a former UFC Bantamweight Champion, predicts a 60-40 favorability for Merab Dvalishvili over Cory Sandhagen in their upcoming fight, expressing his interest in facing the winner after his recent victory and emphasizing his desire to stay active and provide for his large family.
Sean O'Malley, despite losing twice to Merab Dvalishvili, shares his insights and predictions for the upcoming UFC 320 fight between Dvalishvili and Cory Sandhagen, highlighting the strengths and styles of both fighters and expressing uncertainty about the outcome.
UFC announced upcoming fights including Tom Aspinall's first title defense against Ciryl Gane, a rematch between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev, and a bantamweight title shot for Merab Dvalishvili, highlighting a busy second half of the UFC year with key matchups in October and beyond.