Merab Dvalishvili News
Dana White takes aim at top ranked UFC bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili: “You should be somewhere else”
Harry Kettle - August 30, 2023
UFC president Dana White has taken a shot at bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili for opting not to fight Aljamain Sterling. Many fans know that Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling are close friends and training partners. In addition to that, they both compete at bantamweight, with Sterling being the former champion.
Aljamain Sterling reveals “the key” for Merab Dvalishvili to defeat new UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley
Susan Cox - August 29, 2023
Aljamain Sterling is revealing ‘the key’ for Merab Dvalishvili to defeat new UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley. It’s been just over a week ago that Aljamain Sterling (23-4 MMA) was defeated by Sean O’Malley (17-1 MMA) at UFC 292 which took place at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
Chael Sonnen thinks Merab Dvalishvili could be risking his career by waiting for UFC title shot
Fernando Quiles - August 28, 2023
Chael Sonnen isn’t so sure that Merab Dvalishvili is playing his cards right. Dvalishvili recently witnessed his training partner and close friend Aljamain Sterling lose the UFC Bantamweight Championship to Sean O’Malley at UFC 292. After the fight, Merab told “The Schmo” that he plans to wait for a title shot because he doesn’t feel he has anything left to prove since he’s on a nine-fight winning streak. He took things a step further during an interview with MMAJunkie, saying he’d be willing to wait longer than one year for a title opportunity.
Merab Dvalishvili willing to wait a "year or more" for a title shot against Sean O'Malley: "I’m going to fight for the title next"
Cole Shelton - August 25, 2023
Merab Dvalishvili says he won’t fight again unless it’s for the title. Dvalishvil is currently the second-ranked bantamweight and believes he has earned a title shot. However, at UFC 292, his close friend and teammate, Aljamain Sterling lost his title by second-round TKO to Sean O’Malley. Since then, Sterling has been campaigning for an immediate rematch, which Dvalishvili believes should happen.
Merab Dvalishvili sounds off on the idea of Marlon Vera getting the first crack at newly crowned bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley: “He’s not even top 5”
Harry Kettle - August 24, 2023
Merab Dvalishvili has lashed out at the idea of Marlon Vera being the first man to challenge Sean O’Malley for the title. Last weekend, Sean O’Malley defeated Aljamain Sterling to capture the UFC bantamweight championship. In doing so, he put a target on his back – and many 135 pounders are ready to step up to the plate.
Merab Dvalishvili says he has “markgoddardphobia” following latest stoppage in the main event of UFC 292
Harry Kettle - August 23, 2023
Merab Dvalishvili has once again gone after referee Marc Goddard following his stoppage in the main event of UFC 292. Last weekend at UFC 292, Marc Goddard served as the referee for the UFC bantamweight championship fight between Aljamain Sterling and Sean O’Malley. In the second round, O’Malley dropped Sterling before unleashing some nasty ground and pound on the former champ. While Sterling was able to turn and get to his knees, Goddard had seen enough, and decided to stop the contest.
Merab Dvalishvili takes aim at referee Marc Goddard for “another early stoppage” in Aljamain Sterling vs. Sean O’Malley
Harry Kettle - August 21, 2023
Merab Dvalishvili has taken a shot at Marc Goddard for what he deemed to be an early stoppage in the UFC 292 main event between Aljamain Sterling and Sean O’Malley. In the main event of UFC 292 last weekend, Aljamain Sterling went head to head with Sean O’Malley. He was hoping to successfully defend his bantamweight championship once again, but instead, he was TKO’d in the second round by ‘Suga’. In the process, of course, he lost his belt, but some have questioned whether or not it was an early stoppage.
Sean O’Malley takes aim at fellow bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili
Cole Shelton - May 26, 2023
Sean O’Malley has blasted Merab Dvalishvili. After Aljamain Sterling defended his bantamweight title against Henry Cejudo, O’Malley went into the Octagon to faceoff with ‘Funkmaster’ to set up their fight. Once O’Malley got into the ring, he handed Dvalishvhili his jacket to hold which he ended up putting on and keeping. ‘The Machine’ later said he would return the jacket once Sterling has defeated O’Malley.
Merab Dvalishvili accepts challenge from former UFC champion Henry Cejudo: “I will take another of Aljamain Sterling’s leftovers… For now!”
Susan Cox - May 9, 2023
Merab Dvalishvili has accepted the challenge he received from former UFC champion Henry Cejudo. UFC 288 took place last Saturday, May 6th which saw Aljamain Sterling (23-3 MMA) defeat Henry Cejudo (16-3 MMA) via split decision in the main event. With the victory, Sterling has successfully defended his bantamweight title 3 times.
Sean O'Malley & Merab Dvalishvili exchange words following jacket snatching incident at UFC 288
Fernando Quiles - May 7, 2023
Sean O’Malley got heated at UFC 288 over the trolling antics of Merab Dvalishvili and it led to an exchange between the two on social media. O’Malley was in attendance at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey for the event. He got a close look at the main event between UFC Bantamweight Champion Aljamain Sterling and Henry Cejudo. After five rounds of highly competitive action, Sterling successfully retained the 135-pound gold via split decision.
Merab Dvalishvili under fire after performing “dangerous” high-rise social media stunt (Video)
Susan Cox - April 17, 2023
Merab Dvalishvili is coming under fire after performing a ‘dangerous’ high-rise social media stunt. Dvalishvili (16-4 MMA) is currently on an impressive 9 fight winning streak,his latest unanimous decision victory coming against Petr Yan (16-5 MMA) this past March at UFC Fight Night 221.
Video | Merab Dvalishvili climbs into stands to confront trash-talking fan at UFC San Antonio
Harry Kettle - March 27, 2023
UFC fighter Merab Dvalishvili threatened to throw down with a fan over the weekend after being antagonised from the stands. Earlier this month, Merab Dvalishvili recorded the biggest win of his career thus far. He beat, and somewhat dominated, Petr Yan over the course of a five-round bantamweight contest.
Video | Merab Dvalishvili shows off hand injury he sustained two weeks before Petr Yan bout: "I was ignoring the pain so I could fight"
Cole Shelton - March 23, 2023
Merab Dvalishvili revealed he suffered a hand injury just two weeks before he was set to headline UFC Las Vegas against Petr Yan. Dvalishvili headlined his first UFC event tow weeks ago and it was a pivotal scrap for the division. With a win, Merab knew he would be in the title conversation. Yet, just two weeks before the fight, Dvalishvili revealed he suffered a hand injury, and just moments into the fight, he reinjured it.
Aljamain Sterling is open to fighting training partner Merab Dvalishvili if the UFC offers up “NFL money”
Susan Cox - March 16, 2023
Aljamain Sterling is open to fighting training partner Merab Dvalishvili if the UFC offers up ‘NFL money’. Sterling (22-3 MMA) is currently on an eight-fight winning streak, his latest victory coming via TKO against T.J. Dillashaw (17-5 MMA) in October of last year at UFC 280.
Anthony Smith questions whether the friendship between Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili is going both ways: “What I’ve seen is Merab ride hard as s**t for his best friend”
Harry Kettle - March 15, 2023
UFC fighter Anthony Smith has questioned whether the friendship between Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili is too one-sided. Last weekend, Merab Dvalishvili earned the biggest win of his career as he completely outclassed Petr Yan. In doing so, he put himself firmly in line for a shot at the UFC bantamweight championship.
Merab Dvalishvili reacts to UFC President Dana White’s warning about not fighting teammate Aljamain Sterling: “If he wants to do it, I will fight”
Harry Kettle - March 14, 2023
UFC bantamweight star Merab Dvalishvili has responded to a recent warning from Dana White about not fighting Aljamain Sterling. On Saturday night, Merab Dvalishvili stepped out of the shadows in the bantamweight division. He dominated Petr Yan in the main event of the latest UFC Fight Night, cementing himself as a top contender at 135 pounds.
Petr Yan releases statement after UFC Las Vegas loss to Merab Dvalishvili: "I couldn't think about canceling the fight, since I was already on the field"
Cole Shelton - March 13, 2023
Petr Yan has opened up on his UFC Las Vegas main event defeat to Merab Dvalishvili. Yan entered the fight on a two-fight losing skid and being 1-3 in his last four, including two losses to Aljamain Sterling to lose his bantamweight title and then in the rematch. The Russian was the betting favorite against Dvalishvili but Yan was dominated over all five rounds as he lost 50-45 on every scorecard.
Henry Cejudo suggests Merab Dvalishvili be on standby in case Aljamain Sterling backs out of UFC 288 title fight
Fernando Quiles - March 12, 2023
Henry Cejudo doesn’t appear to be sold on his UFC Bantamweight Championship match against Aljamain Sterling actually taking place on May 6. Cejudo is set to challenge Sterling for the top prize in the UFC’s male bantamweight division in the main event of UFC 288. The action will be held inside the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Cejudo took to his Twitter account to suggest to the UFC brass that Sterling’s teammate and close friend Merab Dvalishvili serve as a backup opponent in case Sterling pulls out of the fight (h/t MMAFighting).