Merab Dvalishvili - Mixed Martial Artist
Age: 35
Country: Georgia Occupations:
Mixed Martial Artist
## 🥋 Merab "The Machine" Dvalishvili
Merab Dvalishvili is a Georgian and American professional mixed martial artist who is the current UFC Bantamweight Champion. Known by his fitting nickname, "The Machine," he is celebrated for his relentless pace, exceptional cardio, and world-class wrestling, which have made him one of the most dominant fighters in the bantamweight division's history.
### 🌟 Key Highlights
* Current Title: UFC Bantamweight Champion.
* Nationality: Georgian and American.
* Fighting Style: High-pressure wrestler with a background in Judo, Sambo, and traditional Georgian wrestling (*Qartuli Chidaoba*).
* Notable Achievement: He is the first Georgian-born champion in UFC history.
* Professional MMA Record (Approximate): 21 wins and 4 losses.
### ⚙️ Fighting Style: The Relentless Machine
Dvalishvili’s nickname, "The Machine," perfectly describes his approach to fighting. He uses his phenomenal cardiovascular fitness and muscular endurance to maintain an unstoppable pace for the entire duration of a contest.
* Takedown Mastery: Merab is one of the most prolific takedown artists in UFC history, holding the record for the most total takedowns landed in the promotion. He constantly pressures his opponents, shooting for takedowns in rapid succession until he secures top control.
* Elite Cardio: His ability to compete at a high pace and relentlessly pursue takedowns without slowing down is his most dangerous weapon. Opponents are often completely exhausted by the later rounds simply trying to defend his endless offense.
* Grinding Pressure: Once he secures a takedown, he uses heavy top pressure and non-stop movement to prevent his opponent from returning to their feet or setting up offense, utilizing strikes in the clinch and on the ground to wear them down.
### 📈 Career & Accomplishments
Dvalishvili began his professional career in 2014 and trained under the renowned coaches Ray Longo and Matt Serra at the Serra-Longo Fight Team. After a rocky start to his UFC tenure with two straight losses, he has been virtually unstoppable, building a record-breaking win streak by defeating several former champions and top contenders, including:
* José Aldo
* Petr Yan
* Henry Cejudo
* Sean O'Malley (to win the championship)
His current championship run includes multiple successful title defenses, tying the record for the most consecutive title defenses in UFC Bantamweight division history. He is also ranked highly in the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings.