Tag: Merab Dvalishvili

Video – Merab Dvalishvili slaps up, submits streamer Sneako following dominant UFC 298 win

Merab Dvalishvili slaps up and submits Rumble streamer Sneako after UFC 298 winMerab Dvalishvili hands out beating to live streamer ‘Sneako’, who can’t seem to catch a break. Internet grifter Sneako…

Merab Dvalishvili slaps up and submits Rumble streamer Sneako after UFC 298 win

Merab Dvalishvili hands out beating to live streamer ‘Sneako’, who can’t seem to catch a break.

Internet grifter Sneako appears to be the latest unsavoury character to attach themselves to combat sports in order to boost their profile. Once a loyal follower of Andrew Tate and part of the ‘manosphere’ movement, the American influencer often does and says controversial things in order to maintain relevancy and continue to rake in those all-important views.

Now on his self-improvement shtick, Sneako has begun to amerce himself in the combat sports world, most recently going viral for sparring ex-champion, Sean Strickland. The former middleweight champion did not hold back, raining down shots even after the towel had been thrown in. 

This time Sneako elected to train with the UFC’s No.1 bantamweight, Dvalishvili, and while he did not receive and heavy blows he was tossed around. Merab Dvalishvili would slap around and take down Sneako several times, mocking him as he did so. 

What’s next for Merab Dvalishvili?

Dvalishvili is fresh off a win over Olympic gold medallist Henry Cejudo at UFC 298 and has finally secured himself a spot at the title. The win would mark the third win over a former UFC champion in a row — and Dvalishvili shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.

“I’m unstoppable,” Dvalishvili said to TNT Sports following his win. “I can fight anybody, I’m ready. Next for me is the title, whoever will be champion I will fight.”

The 33-year-old’s next opponent will be decided in a clash between current champion Sean O’Malley and Marlon Vera next month at UFC 299. However, Dvalishvili said he would prefer O’Malley out of the two.

“Sean O’Malley,” Dvalishvili answered. “He’s superstar, he’s champion now and I’ve wanted to fight him since 2018 since I won my first fight (in the UFC) I’ve called him out. That would be a good fight for me because it’s a big challenge and I would love to fight him, so hopefully.”

Will Merab Dvalishvili end 2024 as UFC champion?

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Video – Merab Dvalishvili slaps up, submits streamer Sneako following dominant UFC 298 win

Merab Dvalishvili slaps up and submits Rumble streamer Sneako after UFC 298 winMerab Dvalishvili hands out beating to live streamer ‘Sneako’, who can’t seem to catch a break. Internet grifter Sneako…

Merab Dvalishvili slaps up and submits Rumble streamer Sneako after UFC 298 win

Merab Dvalishvili hands out beating to live streamer ‘Sneako’, who can’t seem to catch a break.

Internet grifter Sneako appears to be the latest unsavoury character to attach themselves to combat sports in order to boost their profile. Once a loyal follower of Andrew Tate and part of the ‘manosphere’ movement, the American influencer often does and says controversial things in order to maintain relevancy and continue to rake in those all-important views.

Now on his self-improvement shtick, Sneako has begun to amerce himself in the combat sports world, most recently going viral for sparring ex-champion, Sean Strickland. The former middleweight champion did not hold back, raining down shots even after the towel had been thrown in. 

This time Sneako elected to train with the UFC’s No.1 bantamweight, Dvalishvili, and while he did not receive and heavy blows he was tossed around. Merab Dvalishvili would slap around and take down Sneako several times, mocking him as he did so. 

What’s next for Merab Dvalishvili?

Dvalishvili is fresh off a win over Olympic gold medallist Henry Cejudo at UFC 298 and has finally secured himself a spot at the title. The win would mark the third win over a former UFC champion in a row — and Dvalishvili shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.

“I’m unstoppable,” Dvalishvili said to TNT Sports following his win. “I can fight anybody, I’m ready. Next for me is the title, whoever will be champion I will fight.”

The 33-year-old’s next opponent will be decided in a clash between current champion Sean O’Malley and Marlon Vera next month at UFC 299. However, Dvalishvili said he would prefer O’Malley out of the two.

“Sean O’Malley,” Dvalishvili answered. “He’s superstar, he’s champion now and I’ve wanted to fight him since 2018 since I won my first fight (in the UFC) I’ve called him out. That would be a good fight for me because it’s a big challenge and I would love to fight him, so hopefully.”

Will Merab Dvalishvili end 2024 as UFC champion?

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Coach reveals Merab Dvalishvili fought Aljamain Sterling for three rounds before UFC 298 win over Henry Cejudo

Merab Dvalishvili fought Aljamain Sterling for three rounds before beating Henry Cejudo at UFC 298UFC bantamweight Merab Dvalishvili confirms backstage sparring story prior to his UFC 298 win this past weekend.  After beating…

Merab Dvalishvili fought Aljamain Sterling for three rounds before beating Henry Cejudo at UFC 298

UFC bantamweight Merab Dvalishvili confirms backstage sparring story prior to his UFC 298 win this past weekend. 

After beating Henry Cejudo over three rounds, Dvalishvili has now beaten three former champions in his past three fights. The proud Georgian would outpace and out-grapple the former Olympic gold medallist, securing himself a shot at the 135lb title. 

It was a classic Dvalishvili performance filled with relentless pace and pressure, the 33-year-old never seems to slow down no matter how many takedowns he may attempt. 

What could make the result even better is that according to Merab Dvalishvili’s coach, Ray Longo, the No.1 ranked bantamweight went an intense 3×5 minute rounds with Aljamain Sterling as a part of the warmup. 

“Literally fought Aljo three rounds,” Longo said on The Anik & Florian Podcast. “Like f***ing brutal, little gloves on, swinging for the f***ing fences. Like Aljo complains about my boxing class sometimes, but that’s way worse what I just saw. Dude, they went at it three-five, so yeah, that’s the second fight of the night.”

Appearing on the MMA Hour yesterday, Dvalishvili confirmed the series of events, even claiming that the rounds with Sterling were harder than the actual fight. 

“Yeah, yeah,” Dvalishvili answered. “That’s how we warm up, we are best friends, training partners, we beat each other and make each other better and then we are ready for anybody else.”

Dana White confirms Merab Dvalishvili title shot next 

While UFC CEO White claims he does not make fights the night of an event, during the post-fight media conference would at least confirm that Dvalishvili would be next. He will face either Sean O’Malley or Marlon Vera with the pair fighting for the belt on March 9.

“He looked good tonight, man,” White said. “He did what he had (to do).”

Will Merab Dvalishvili become UFC champion?

Video – Thousands of Georgians gather in freezing weather to watch Ilia Topuria’s UFC 298 title win

Georgians watch Ilia Topuria win UFC titleGeorgia has its first UFC world champion, and his name is Ilia Topuria. On Saturday night, ‘El Matador’ entered…

Georgians watch Ilia Topuria win UFC title

Georgia has its first UFC world champion, and his name is Ilia Topuria.

On Saturday night, ‘El Matador’ entered the Octagon with an entire country behind him. Less than two rounds later, he shocked the world with a sensational second-round knockout of featherweight kingpin Alexander Volkavnoski to claim the 145-pound crown. It was a history-making moment for Topuria and his transcontinental home country.

To give the rest of the world an idea of how much Topuria’s victory means to the country, MMA reporter and fellow Georgian Giorgi Kokiashvili shared a video of thousands of fight fans celebrating in the streets after their native son did exactly what he said he was going to do.

“Topuria is a great and had a tremendous performance. If he continues like this I think he will have a great future,” UFC CEO Dana White said at a post-fight press event.

Merab Dvalishvili gives Georgians another victory to celebrate

Ilia Topuria wasn’t the only Georgian fighter to deliver big at UFC 298. Earlier in the evening, bantamweight standout Merab Dvalishvili scored his 10th-straight win inside the Octagon, besting former two-division titleholder Henry Cejudo via unanimous decision.

With the victory, Dvalishvili was dubbed as the next man in line for a shot at the 135-pound title.

Sean O’Malley already trying to duck fight with Merab Dvalishvili, would rather face new UFC champ Ilia Topuria

Sean O'Malley talks Merab Dvalishvili fightAccording to Dana White, Merab Dvalishvili is the next man in line for a bantamweight title opportunity. Sean O’Malley…

Sean O'Malley talks Merab Dvalishvili fight

According to Dana White, Merab Dvalishvili is the next man in line for a bantamweight title opportunity. Sean O’Malley doesn’t necessarily agree.

On Saturday night, ‘The Machine’ scored an impressive unanimous decision victory over No. 3 ranked contender Henry Cejudo. It was Dvalishvili’s 10th-straight win inside the Octagon and — according to the UFC CEO — that puts him in pole position to fight the winner of next month’s bantamweight championship clash between reigning titleholder Sean O’Malley and Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera at UFC 299.

But it sounds as though O’Malley is already trying to weasel his way out of a potential meeting with ‘The Machine.’

Speaking with Ariel Helwani on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour, ‘Sugar’ appeared to be far more interested in a scrap with newly crowned featherweight king, Ilia Topuria.

“There’s Merab, there’s Cory [Sandhagen], and there’s Ilia [Topuria],” O’Malley said. “Those three are all potentially next, but I’m dialed in and laser-focused on Chito. Whatever happens after that, I’m very confident. Merab’s very beatable. Henry [Cejudo] about knocked him out. Marlon Moraes about knocked him out. Merab’s got a crazy-good gas tank. A lot of wrestling. He’s a dangerous opponent, but when I think of a scary opponent, that’s Ilia.

“He could put your f*cking lights out and change your life. That’s a scary opponent Merab’s a dangerous opponent. He’s got good cardio. He could eventually put your lights out after you gas out, but he couldn’t finish Henry. We’ll see. I like big fights. When you’re grinding through these camps… I’m not saying Merab wouldn’t be up there, but what it comes down to is what do the people really truly want to see. If they want to see Merab, that’s what’s next, but I hate even talking about that. I got Chito next.”

Topuria did exactly what he said he was going to do on Saturday night, sending ex-featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski into the shadow realm via a shocking second-round KO to claim his first UFC gold.

As exciting as O’Malley vs. Topuria sounds, it’s unlikely that the UFC will move forward given that they are two of the promotion’s newest champions. ‘Sugar’ is yet to make his first defense of the bantamweight belt while Topuria is only days removed from his victory over Volkanovski. Perhaps once O’Malley and ‘El Matador’ clear out some of their stacked divisions, we will see a superfight between the two.

Dana White confirms Merab Dvalishvili will fight for the bantamweight title following UFC 298 win

Merab DvalishviliMerab Dvalishvili will face the winner of next month’s bantamweight title tilt between reigning champion ‘Sugar’ Sean O’Malley and…

Merab Dvalishvili

Merab Dvalishvili will face the winner of next month’s bantamweight title tilt between reigning champion ‘Sugar’ Sean O’Malley and No. 6 ranked contender Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera.

‘The Machine’ earned his 10th straight victory at UFC 298 on Saturday night, scoring a decisive unanimous decision victory over former two-division champion Henry Cejudo. Following the evening’s festivities, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed that Dvalishvili will be next in line for a shot at the 135-pound crown.

“He looked good tonight, man,” White said at the post-fight press event. “He did what he had (to do). In my opinion, you can’t take three years off in a combat sport. It’s never done well for anybody. Cejudo looked great in the first round. I thought he started to gas out in the second round. Merab just got stronger as the fight went on.”

Dana White reveals why cejudo didn’t get the mic following his loss to dvalishvili

As for Cejudo, the 2008 Olympic gold medalist vowed to retire should he come up short against Dvalishvili inside Anaheim’s Honda Center. By all accounts, ‘Triple C’ will stand by his words, but he was not given the opportunity to address the crowd following his loss.

“Henry Cejudo already retired,” White replied when asked why Cejudo did not get a post-fight interview. “He did the whole drop the gloves thing. Tonight was Merab’s night. Merab went in there and fought the No. 3 guy in the world — a former world champion — and he won easily. Tonight was Merab’s night. If he wants to retire again, he could do that here or somewhere else. You don’t give the mic to Cejudo — tonight was Merab’s night.”

If this truly is the end for Henry Cejudo (again), ‘Triple C’ will close out his career by going 10-4 under the UFC banner and 16-4 overall. As a former bantamweight, flyweight, and Olympic champion, Cejudo will be remembered as one of the greatest combat sports athletes of all time.