Merab Dvalishvili News

Merab Dvalishvili
UFC

VIDEO | Georgia serenades Merab Dvalishvili as a hero after UFC 306 title win

Curtis Calhoun - September 30, 2024

UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili became the latest Georgian athlete to reach the pinnacle of his athletic profession. Dvalishvili defeated Sean O’Malley by unanimous decision to become the UFC bantamweight titleholder at UFC 306. He shut down O’Malley’s striking arsenal and wrestled to a dominant victory on the judges’ scorecards.

Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov
UFC

Merab Dvalishvili takes aim at prior opponents Petr Yan, Henry Cejudo and Sean O'Malley, vows to "smash" Umar Nurmagomedov

Chris Taylor - September 28, 2024

Merab Dvalishvili took aim at a number of his previous opponents on Saturday afternoon, this while vowing to “smash” Umar Nurmagomedov. Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA) became the UFC’s newly minted bantamweight champion earlier this month at The Sphere in Las Vegas, earning a dominant unanimous decision victory over Sean O’Malley.

Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O'Malley
Sean O'Malley

Merab Dvalishvili calls to rematch Sean O'Malley at UFC 309: "I wanna show him I will beat him again"

Cole Shelton - September 27, 2024

Merab Dvalishvili wants his first title defense to be a rematch against Sean O’Malley. Dvalishvili became the UFC’s bantamweight champion with a clear-cut decision win over O’Malley at UFC 306 at Sphere. Following the win, most assumed that Dvalishvili would face Umar Nurmagomedov next. However, since the fight, O’Malley has called for a rematch as he claimed he won rounds 1, 3, and 5.

Herb Dean, Merab Dvalishvili
Merab Dvalishvili

Referee Herb Dean defends encouraging Merab Dvalishvili to "work" more in later rounds at UFC 306

Curtis Calhoun - September 25, 2024

MMA referee Herb Dean explained his persistence in wanting more volume and action from Merab Dvalishvili in the later rounds of the UFC 306 headliner. Dvalishvili defeated Sean O’Malley by unanimous decision to earn the UFC bantamweight title at UFC 306. He largely dominated the fight against O’Malley with his wrestling, despite O’Malley believing he was robbed on the judges’ scorecards.

Sean O'Malley
Sean O'Malley

VIDEO | Sean O'Malley mocks Merab Dvalishvili's style in "takeaway" review of UFC 306

Curtis Calhoun - September 23, 2024

Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley has explained, in his way, what he took away from five rounds in the Octagon with Merab Dvalishvili. O’Malley lost the UFC bantamweight belt to Dvalishvili at UFC 306 earlier this month. He lost by unanimous decision and struggled to find footing against the mauling of Dvalishvili in the Octagon.

Merab Dvalishvili
UFC

Newly minted UFC champion Merab Dvalishvili reveals he was working a full time construction job until 2020

Harry Kettle - September 23, 2024

UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has made a surprising revelation regarding his former career outside the cage. Merab Dvalishvili is the new king at 135 pounds. Earlier this month at Noche UFC, he defeated Sean O’Malley to become the new champion – and he did so in emphatic fashion. It marks the end of a long journey for the Georgian superstar that saw him scratch and claw to make his way to the top of the mountain.

Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O’Malley
Sean O'Malley

TJ Dillashaw praises Merab Dvalishvili for making Sean O’Malley look "weak" at UFC 306

Fernando Quiles - September 22, 2024

TJ Dillashaw believes Merab Dvalisvili made Sean O’Malley look weak in their UFC 306 title fight. Dvalishvili put forth a stellar performance against “Suga.” His pressure and wrestling gave O’Malley problems throughout the fight. When the score totals were read, it was Dvalishvili who had his hand raised via unanimous decision, securing the UFC bantamweight title in the process.

Merab Dvalishvili, Umar Nurmagomedov
UFC

Merab Dvalishvili pivots on Umar Nurmagomedov title shot: "I am a company man!"

Curtis Calhoun - September 18, 2024

UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has reversed course on his willingness to face Umar Nurmagomedov for his first title defense. Dvalishvili earned the UFC bantamweight title by unanimous decision against Sean O’Malley at UFC 306. He used his wrestling and timely striking to stifle and frustrate O’Malley over five rounds of action.

Merab Dvalishvili, Sean O'Malley
Sean O'Malley

Merab Dvalishvili's coach shares what he screamed at coach Tim Welch during UFC 306 headliner

Curtis Calhoun - September 17, 2024

UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili took issue with Tim Welch’s taunting in the opening seconds of UFC 306, and his coach took mere minutes to hit back. Dvalishvili got the last laugh against Sean O’Malley by defeating him by unanimous decision in the UFC 306 main event. The Georgian’s long path to the title paid off in a big way as he largely dominated O’Malley over five rounds.

Henry Cejudo and Merab Dvalishvili
Merab Dvalishvili

Henry Cejudo claims Merab Dvalishvili is "lucky" he was injured after the Georgian's UFC 306 performance

Cole Shelton - September 17, 2024

Henry Cejudo wasn’t impressed with Merab Dvalishvili’s performance at UFC 306. Despite Dvalishvili dominating Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 at The Sphere to become the new bantamweight champion, Cejudo wasn’t impressed by what he saw. Instead, his main takeaway was that Dvalishvili didn’t look all that impressive and he believes had he not been injured in his fight against the Georgian he would have won.

Merab Dvalishvili and UFC 306
Merab Dvalishvili

What's next for the stars of UFC 306?

Cole Shelton - September 16, 2024

The UFC held its first-ever event at Sphere in Las Vegas on Saturday for a solid UFC 306 card, that saw two titles on the line. In the main event, Sean O’Malley was looking to defend his bantamweight title for the second time against Merab Dvalishvili. The co-main event saw Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko having their trilogy match for the 125lbs title.

Merab Dvalishvili
UFC

VIDEO | Georgian fans go berserk as Merab Dvalishvili wins a UFC title

Curtis Calhoun - September 16, 2024

UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili gave Georgians a new role model to look up to after his triumphant showing at UFC 306. Dvalishvili became the UFC’s second Georgian champion by defeating Sean O’Malley by unanimous decision on Saturday. He wrestled his way to a title win and largely shut down O’Malley’s striking offensive.

Tim Welch, Merab Dvalishvili, Herb Dean
UFC

Coach Tim Welch shares what he said to Merab Dvalishvili in opening seconds of UFC 306

Curtis Calhoun - September 16, 2024

Sean O’Malley’s head coach, Tim Welch, has revealed what he told Merab Dvalishvili in the opening seconds of UFC 306 that forced referee Herb Dean to scold him. Dvalishvili dominantly defeated Welch’s pupil at UFC 306 last Saturday in Las Vegas. Under the immense spotlight of the Sphere, Dvalishvili put on arguably the best performance of his career to earn the UFC bantamweight title.

Merab Dvalishvili, UFC 306, Results, Sean O'Malley, UFC
UFC

Merab Dvalishvili explains why he was “kissing” Sean O’Malley during their title fight at UFC 306

Fernando Quiles - September 16, 2024

Merab Dvalishvili has explained why he taunted Sean O’Malley with kisses near the end of the first round of their UFC 306 title fight. It’s not often that fighters plant a big smooch on their opponent, but that’s exactly what Dvalishvili did against the “Suga” show this past Saturday night. Dvalishvili challenged O’Malley for the UFC Bantamweight Championship. Ultimately, it was the Georgian’s pressure and grappling that earned him a unanimous decision win and UFC gold.

Merab Dvalishvili Noche UFC 306
UFC

Newly-minted UFC champion Merab Dvalishvili names worthy contender, and it isn't Umar Nurmagomedov

Fernando Quiles - September 15, 2024

Newly-minted UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has a worthy contender in mind, and it isn’t Umar Nurmagomedov. Dvalishvili is now the king of the 135-pound division after dethroning Sean O’Malley in the main event of UFC 306 in Las Vegas, It was the pressure and grappling of Dvalishvili that sealed the deal en route to a unanimous decision victory.

Merab Dvalishvili, Valentina Shevchenko
Noche UFC

Video | New champs Merab Dvalishvili and Valentina Shevchenko show off their dance moves backstage at UFC 306

Harry Kettle - September 15, 2024

Merab Dvalishvili and Valentina Shevchenko showed off their dance moves last night after their respective wins at UFC 306. Last night, two new champions were crowned at the Sphere in Las Vegas. First, Valentina Shevchenko defeated Alexa Grasso to reclaim her UFC women’s flyweight championship. Then, shortly afterward, Merab Dvalishvili dominated Sean O’Malley to become the new UFC bantamweight champion. As you can imagine, both were pretty overjoyed.

Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov
Sean O'Malley

Umar Nurmagomedov reacts after Merab Dvalishvili dethrones Sean O’Malley at UFC 306: “I hope he won't avoid the real challenger”

Harry Kettle - September 15, 2024

Umar Nurmagomedov has given his thoughts on Merab Dvalishvili dethroning Sean O’Malley at UFC 306. Last night, Merab Dvalishvili got the job done in style. He dominated Sean O’Malley in the main event of Noche UFC to become the new UFC bantamweight champion. From pillar to post, he produced an excellent performance to ensure he was the one leaving Las Vegas with the gold.

Merab Dvalishvili, UFC 306, Pros react, Sean O'Malley, UFC
Sean O'Malley

Pros react after Merab Dvalishvili defeats Sean O’Malley at UFC 306: "I call it the other way"

Chris Taylor - September 14, 2024

Tonight’s UFC 306 event was headlined by a men’s bantamweight title fight between Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili. O’Malley (18-2 MMA) was looking to earn his second career title defense this evening in Las Vegas. ‘Suga’ had successfully defended his 135lbs gold this past March at UFC 299, by scoring a lopsided unanimous decision victory over Marlon Vera. That win was of course preceded by his title-earning TKO victory over Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292.

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