At UFC 316, Merab Dvalishvili did more than defend his bantamweight title, and he cemented his legacy as the greatest 135-pound fighter in UFC history. With a third-round submission of Sean O’Malley, Dvalishvili silenced any remaining doubters and proved that not only is he elite, but he’s evolving in real time.
Known for his legendary cardio and relentless pace, “The Machine” showed new layers to his game, hurting O’Malley on the feet and finishing him with a statement-making submission. It was his first finish since 2021 and his first-ever submission win inside the UFC.
Dvalishvili is now just one title defense away from matching the all-time UFC bantamweight record of three, held jointly by Dominick Cruz and Aljamain Sterling. But even without that milestone, his résumé is unmatched. Long before earning the title, Merab built one of the most impressive win streaks in the division’s history, beating three former champions: Petr Yan, José Aldo (a former featherweight champ), and Henry Cejudo, all in dominant fashion.
Most fighters would receive a title shot after just one of those victories. Merab, however, opted to stand by his friend and then-champion Aljamain Sterling, refusing to fight him out of loyalty. While this decision earned him criticism from UFC President Dana White and others, Merab’s integrity never wavered. He’s not just a dominant fighter; he’s a man of principle.
His title shot finally came after O’Malley dethroned Sterling and defeated Marlon “Chito” Vera in a rematch that many felt should have gone to Dvalishvili. At UFC 306, Merab dismantled O’Malley in a lopsided decision that made it clear the belt had finally found its rightful owner.
Dvalishvili’s first title defense came against Umar Nurmagomedov, the undefeated cousin of Khabib and one of the most hyped bantamweight prospects in UFC history. Umar started strong, winning the first two rounds. But Merab’s legendary pressure and stamina began to shift the tide in the third round. As Umar faded, Merab surged, winning the final three rounds with pace, aggression, and confidence, including moments of showboating that showcased his comfort in high-stakes fights.
Six months later, Merab granted O’Malley a rematch at UFC 316. This time, the outcome was even more decisive. He stunned O’Malley multiple times on the feet before securing a takedown and locking in a third-round submission.
The performance earned him a bonus and a wave of praise from fans and media alike. In a division filled with killers, Merab had once again stood tall and looked better than ever doing it.
Merab’s cardio is the stuff of legend. Through his entire UFC career, he has never visibly fatigued, not even in five-round wars against the world’s best. Opponents like Yan, Cejudo, Aldo, Umar, and O’Malley all wilted under his pressure. He never slows, never breaks, and never stops moving forward.
He has been tested against elite strikers and elite grapplers. None have been able to match the pace. His stamina has reached such mythical levels that some fans speculate performance-enhancing assistance, not because of evidence, but because they simply can’t believe what they’re witnessing. He truly lives up to his nickname: “The Machine.”
All signs point to Cory Sandhagen as the next title challenger. Sandhagen looked sharp in his most recent win over former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo, and like Merab, has beaten most of the division’s top names.
However, stylistically, the matchup favors Merab. Sandhagen has recent losses to both Petr Yan and Umar Nurmagomedov, two fighters Merab beat decisively. Umar dominated Sandhagen in a 50-45 shutout just one year ago, raising serious questions about how Cory would handle Merab’s pace and physicality.
When Merab started his reign as UFC champion, many thought he was boring, and as a result, he was hated. I will say, I wasn’t the biggest fan of him myself. He is an incredible showman and has since won over the crowds. He is flashy in the way Conor McGregor was, but rather is just authentically himself. He creates humorous skits, showcases his athleticism during fights, and is simply a machine with seemingly infinite cardio.
I can’t see Merab losing anytime soon. He has already beaten all of the surging contenders outside of Sandhagen, and Sandhagen has shown nothing that would make me think his fight with Merab goes any differently than those who came before him. The only thing that will stop Merab is Father Time, and only time will tell how long that process will take.
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