Tag: Merab Dvalishvili

Merab Dvalishvili turns in dominant decision win over Henry Cejudo, calls for title fight – UFC 298 Highlights

Merab Dvalishvili turns in dominant decision win over Henry Cejudo title shot at UFC 298Turning in his stunning tenth consecutive victory tonight on the main card of UFC 298, surging number two ranked…

Merab Dvalishvili turns in dominant decision win over Henry Cejudo title shot at UFC 298

Turning in his stunning tenth consecutive victory tonight on the main card of UFC 298, surging number two ranked bantamweight contender, Merab Dvalishvili has staked his claim for a shot at divisional gold next — off the back of a stunning, one-sided unanimous decision win over former two-division champion, Henry Cejudo.

Dvalishvili, who joins the ranks of fighters past and present to ride a ten fight winning streak, entered tonight’s expected championship eliminator against Olympic gold medalist, Cejudo, off the back of a similarly dominant unanimous decision win over former undisputed champion, Petr Yan in a main event clash last March.

And surviving an early scare against Cejudo in the form of a flush check left hook, Dvalishvili would turn up the heat as per usual in the second and third frames, landing a shutout unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) victory over former two-weight best, Cejudo.

Following his decision win over the Los Angeles-born force, Dvalishvili called for a title fight with incumbent gold holder, Sean O’Malley, with the Montana native — sitting in attendance at the Honda Center, appearing less than impressed with the Tbilisi native’s performance tonight.

Below, catch the highlights from Merab Dvalishvili’s win at UFC 298

Henry Cejudo removes longtime coach Eric Albarracin from his fight camp ahead of UFC 298

Henry Cejudo and Eric AlbarracinIt’s either win or go home for Henry Cejudo on February 17. The former two-division world champion returns to…

Henry Cejudo and Eric Albarracin

It’s either win or go home for Henry Cejudo on February 17.

The former two-division world champion returns to the Octagon at UFC 298 in Anaheim nine months removed from his split decision loss against then-bantamweight titleholder Aljamain Sterling. This time, ‘Triple C’ will square off with Sterling’s best friend and No. 2 ranked contender at 135, Merab Dvalishvili.

If Cejudo wins, he will likely face the winner of next month’s bantamweight title tilt between defending champ ‘Sugar’ Sean O’Malley and Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera. But if he loses, it could bring an end to his iconic UFC career.

“This is for the No. 1 contender spot,” Cejudo said in an interview on The HJR Experiment. “I think after losing to Aljamain, I think if I was going to go maybe down the ladder, I would probably be done with fighting again. Yeah, man. Because it’s just like, this sport is hard, man. Training camps, having two kids and things like that. It’s all or nothing, man.”

Facing a do-or-die situation, Henry Cejudo is taking some extreme steps to give himself the best possible shot at snapping Dvalishvili’s nine-fight win streak. During the latest episode of UFC Countdown, ‘Triple C’ broke the news to his longtime coach — Eric Albarracin — that his services would not be needed for what could be the final fight camp of Cejudo’s career.

“You were with me for my last Olympic trials,” Cejudo told Albarracin. “You’ve been there for me, but as of right now… I just want to let you know for this camp, I’m getting rid of specific coaches. You included.”

“Sometimes you are too close to somebody and people just get too comfortable,” Cejudo added.

Throughout his illustrious run as a mixed martial arts coach, Albarracin has coached Bellator stars Patricio Pitbull and Patricky Pitbull, former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo, one-time UFC title challenger Paulo Costa, and the recently retired ‘Korean Zombie’ Chan Sung Jung. All in all, he has coached 13 world champions.

Cejudo’s decision to relieve Albarracin of his duties ahead of UFC 298 earned mixed reactions from fight fans — some commending the Olympic gold medalist for doing whatever it takes to win while others disparaged his decision to break the news on camera.

“Great to see Cejudo’s willing to do whatever it takes.”

“Interesting move by Triple C.”

“Bringing a camera crew to have that conversation with someone is wild.”

“He’s going all in.”

“That had to be hard for Cejudo and of course, it’s gonna hurt Eric it’d be weird if it didn’t sting a little but they’re pros they know what they need.”

“Why is this idiot doing it on camera?”

Henry Cejudo likely to retire with a loss against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 298: ‘It’s all or nothing, man’

Henry CejudoIt’s all or nothing for Henry Cejudo at UFC 298. Nine months after failing to reclaim the bantamweight title…

Henry Cejudo

It’s all or nothing for Henry Cejudo at UFC 298.

Nine months after failing to reclaim the bantamweight title in his return to the Octagon, ‘Triple C’ will look to score himself another shot at UFC gold on February 17. But to do so, he has to go through one of the most feared fighters at 135, Merab Dvalishvili.

With a win, Cejudo sees his next fight being against the winner of UFC 299’s showdown between bantamweight titleholder Sean O’Malley and Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera. But a loss against ‘The Machine’ will likely send the Olympic gold medalist into retirement for the second and final time.

“This is for the No. 1 contender spot,” Cejudo told The HJR Experiment. “I think to have to lose it to Aljamain … I think if I was going to go maybe down the ladder, I would probably be done with fighting again because it’s just like the sport is hard, man. Training camps, having two kids, and things like that. … It’s all or nothing, man.”

Henry Cejudo Says Fighting Is Not Always About The Love of the Sport

Cejudo currently occupies the No. 3 spot in the bantamweight rankings, one behind Dvalishivili and two under former division champ Aljamain Sterling. With the ‘Funk Master’ making the move to featherweight later this year, he’s expected to relinquish his spot at the top.

‘Triple C’ returned at UFC 288 last year, challenging Sterling for the 135-pound crown. Cejudo came up short, losing on two of the three judges’ scorecards.

“It’s more of a motivation of vengeance,” Cejudo continued. “It’s not always the love. Even coming back to the sport, I was like, ‘I want to test myself.’ I like the matchup. It has been three years, but it was also the financial compensation. I mean, there’s nothing easier to make money than the fight game” (h/t MMA Mania).

Henry Cejudo diagnosed with ‘brain damage’ ahead of UFC 298 return: ‘Dr. Merab will fix this problem’

Dr. Merab DvalishviliMove over Dr. Quinn, Dr. Nick, and Doogie Howser. We’ve got a new M.D. running things and his name…

Dr. Merab Dvalishvili

Move over Dr. Quinn, Dr. Nick, and Doogie Howser. We’ve got a new M.D. running things and his name is Dr. Merab.

Riding a nine-fight win streak, Merab Dvalishvili will head to Anaheim, California on February 17 looking for his 10th win in a row and a long-awaited shot at the bantamweight world championship. Standing in his way at UFC 298 will be former two-division titleholder Henry Cejudo. ‘Triple C’ enters the bout determined to bounce back from a failed attempt to dethrone then-champion Aljamain Sterling in May.

Ahead of their potential title eliminator, Dvalishvili delivered a clever bit of trash talk via a post on Instagram. Morphing into a whole new persona, Dr. Merab, ‘The Machine’ poked fun at the bantamweight division’s top 10 while suggesting that his next opponent is suffering from an accute case of brain damage.

“Hey Henry Cejudo, what are you talking about me? Don’t think I forgot about you,” Dvalishvili said on social media. “Brain damage. We have a result from hospital. Henry Cejudo has longer tongue than himself. But no worries, Dr. Merab will fix this problem on February 17th. See you there Henry!”

Multiple fighters, including Aljamain Sterling, were highly entertained by Dvalishvili’s hilarious dig at Cejudo and much of the 135-pound weight class. “Lmaooo brooo! This is too good!” Sterling commented. Paulo Costa posted a series of laughing-out-loud emojis in response while MMA interviewer Nina Drama wrote, “Merab is the FUNNIEST fighter in all of MMA.

Merab Dvalishvili currently sits in the No. 2 spot in the bantamweight rankings, one above Henry Cejudo. With a win over ‘Triple C,’ he will likely punch his ticket to a title fight with the winner of UFC 299’s title clash between defending champ Sean O’Malley and Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera.

Report – Ex-Champion Henry Cejudo set to fight Merab Dvalishvili in clash at UFC 298 in Anaheim

Henry Cejudo set to fight Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 298 in February in AnaheimFormer undisputed flyweight and bantamweight champion, Henry Cejudo is set for his return to the Octagon at a UFC…

Henry Cejudo set to fight Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 298 in February in Anaheim

Former undisputed flyweight and bantamweight champion, Henry Cejudo is set for his return to the Octagon at a UFC 298 pay-per-view card on February 17. from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California – taking on surging Georgian contender, Merab Dvalishvili in a potential title-elimonator.

Cejudo, the current number three ranked bantamweight contender, snapped his three-year retirement from mixed martial arts back in August against Dvalishvili’s training partner and then-champion, Aljamain Sterling – suffering a split decision loss to the Uniondale native in the pair’s championship clash.

Henry Cejudo confirms Merab Dvalishvili fight at UFC 298

And as for Tbilisi native, Dvalishvili, the streaking contender currently holds the number two rank in the division, landing a one-sided unanimous decision win over former champion, Petr Yan in the pair’s main event clash at UFC Las Vegas back in March. Olympic gold medal winner, Henry Cejudo confirmed the pairing between himself and Merab Dvalishvili on his official YouTube channel.

16-3 as a professional, Los Angeles-born veteran, Cejudo had landed a successful bantamweight title defense against former two-time divisional champion, Dominick Cruz at UFC 249 back in 2020 – stopping the ex-titleholder with a series of late strikes, before stunningly calling time on his illustrious professional career.

As for Dvalishvili, the 16-4 contender added Russian former champion, Yan to an undefeated streak spanning nine fights with his unanimous decision shutout win back in March of this year.

UFC 298 takes place on February 17. from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, with an undisputed featherweight title fight between champion, Alexander Volkanovski, and challenger, Ilia Topuria set to take main event honors.

Who wins at UFC 298 in Anaheim: Henry Cejudo or Merab Dvalishvili?

Merab Dvalishvili now open to clash with friend Aljamain Sterling: if UFC offered good money, maybe we can fight’

merab dvalishviliUFC bantamweight Merab Dvalishvili backtracks decision to never fight teammate and friend, Aljamain Sterling.  Prior to Sterling’s loss to Sean O’Malley, he and Merab Dvalishvili were widely considered the best two 135lber’s in the promotion. However, the pair have trained together for years at Serra-Longo Fight Team and are close friends. Both men, and their […]

merab dvalishvili

UFC bantamweight Merab Dvalishvili backtracks decision to never fight teammate and friend, Aljamain Sterling. 

Prior to Sterling’s loss to Sean O’Malley, he and Merab Dvalishvili were widely considered the best two 135lber’s in the promotion. However, the pair have trained together for years at Serra-Longo Fight Team and are close friends.

Both men, and their coaches, have said that they would not be willing to fight one another citing their relationship. 

“One thing is for sure: we’re never going to fight. Me and Aljo, we’re never going to fight each other,” Dvalishvili said before his bout with Marlon Moraes.

“To do that and to really try to fight each other and try to hurt each other, I go meet his family, he goes and meets my family. He goes to my country, Jamaica. I go to his country, Georgia. Dude, it’s just not even right,” Sterling said earlier this year.

Later in this same interview, Sterling did say that he would consider the fight if they offered him a big pay cheque, employing that it would need to be rather sizeable

Merab Dvalishvili makes u-turn

Now it seems though that Dvalishvili, who has been the one to strongly defend the position since Sterling became champion, would in fact be willing to take the fight. Talking on the MMA Hour, Dvalishvili stated that the UFC never made an official approach to make the fight and that he would consider it if the money were right.

“UFC never offered Aljo or me to fight each other,” Dvalishvili said. “I don’t understand why they complain to us (about) not fighting. Yes, of course I say I don’t wanna fight Aljo, and I don’t wanna fight Aljo. But if UFC offered fight, and UFC maybe offered good money, and we are maybe in a situation where there is no one else that we can fight, then maybe me and Aljo, we sit like always and maybe we can fight.” (H/T MMA News)

Continuing, Dvashvili reiterated that like Sterling, the money could entice him. 

“But now they make a big deal, like, Aljo is always booked,” Dvalishvili continued. Aljo versus Petr Yan, then next TJ Dillashaw, after Henry Cejudo, and then they make him come back quick and give him (Sean) O’Malley. They never offered myself! They never offered me Aljo. I don’t understand why people complain. Of course I don’t wanna fight Aljo, like I said. But like Aljo said in one of his interviews, if UFC offered money, yeah, maybe we fight if there is no one else.”

Merab Dvalishvili appearing on The MMA Hour

Who would win, Merab Dvalishvili or Aljamain Sterling?