Merab Dvalishvili is the new UFC bantamweight champion.
“The Machine” returned home to his native Georgia earlier this week and received one of the craziest reactions in recent memory, getting swarmed by his local countrymen to help celebrate his achievement. Dvalishvili whooped Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 inside the Sphere last month in Las Vegas to capture the 135-pound crown.
“Thank you my country for such a warm greeting,” Dvalishvili wrote on Instagram. “I’m grateful for everything, Georgia and Georgian people are in my heart.”
No word yet on when Dvalishvili, 33, will defend his bantamweight title but early 2025 seems like a safe bet. As far as his next opponent, No. 2-ranked contender Umar Nurmagomedov remains atop a short list of eligible bantamweights and it’s just a matter of the promotion getting both combatants to put pen to paper.
For much more on Dvalishvili’s victory at UFC 306 click here.