Merab Dvalishvili

UFC Rankings Report: Dvalishvili Lands Above Aspinall In P4P Top 10, Muhammad Jumps Du Plessis

As always, the latest action on offer inside the Octagon has seen some climb the ladder toward contention and others fall away. And in the aftermath of UFC 306 (Noche UFC), MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings. Men’s Pound-For-Pound: Merab Dvalishvili closed out Saturday’s event with his long-awaited championship […]

Continue Reading UFC Rankings Report: Dvalishvili Lands Above Aspinall In P4P Top 10, Muhammad Jumps Du Plessis at MMA News.

As always, the latest action on offer inside the Octagon has seen some climb the ladder toward contention and others fall away.

And in the aftermath of UFC 306 (Noche UFC), MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings.

Men’s Pound-For-Pound: Merab Dvalishvili closed out Saturday’s event with his long-awaited championship crowning. As a result, the bantamweight kingpin has debuted on the P4P list at #7, one position above interim heavyweight titleholder Tom Aspinall. Further up, welterweight champ Belal Muhammad (#5) has jumped his middleweight counterpart Dricus Du Plessis (#6).

The defeated O’Malley, meanwhile, has slid seven positions to #13. Dvalishvili’s friend and teammate Aljamain Sterling is out of the top 15 entirely following the Georgian’s arrival.

Women’s Pound-for-Pound: Valentina Shevchenko is once again the flyweight queen, and she’s also back on the P4P mountaintop. “Bullet” has climbed two places back to top spot, while previous #1 Alexa Grasso has fallen to #3 following her lopsided loss to Shevchenko in their trilogy.

Women’s Strawweight: No changes.

Women’s Flyweight: The sole change at 125 pounds has seen Grasso slip back to top contender status, swapping positions with now-champ Shevchenko.

Women’s Bantamweight: Norma Dumont secured the biggest win of her career in the Noche UFC featured prelim, outpointing a badly damaged Irene Aldana. The result has seen the Brazilian ascend by three positions to #5 at 135 pounds. The defeated Mexican, on the other hand, is down just one spot to #6.

Flyweight: In the male 125-pound weight class, Asu Almabayev has moved up one place to share #14 with the recently retired Matt Schnell.

Bantamweight: Like in the women’s flyweight division, the only change in the men’s 135-pound division came with the switch on the throne. With Dvalishvili now occupying it, O’Malley is the #1-ranked bantamweight.

Featherweight: The biggest climber this week is the charging Diego Lopes, who got the better of former two-time title challenger and longtime top-five contender Brian Ortega on Saturday night. The Mexico-residing Brazilian has risen by a mammoth 10 positions to #3. “T-City,” meanwhile, has been relegated to #5.

With Movsar Evloev staying put at #6, the changes have led to a two-place fall to #7 for Arnold Allen.

Lightweight: No changes.

Welterweight: No changes.

Middleweight: No changes.

Light Heavyweight: No changes.

Heavyweight: No changes.

You can view the full updated UFC rankings here.

Continue Reading UFC Rankings Report: Dvalishvili Lands Above Aspinall In P4P Top 10, Muhammad Jumps Du Plessis at MMA News.

UFC Rankings Report: Dvalishvili Lands Above Aspinall In P4P Top 10, Muhammad Jumps Du Plessis

Continue Reading UFC Rankings Report: Dvalishvili Lands Above Aspinall In P4P Top 10, Muhammad Jumps Du Plessis at MMA News.

As always, the latest action on offer inside the Octagon has seen some climb the ladder toward contention and others fall away.

And in the aftermath of UFC 306 (Noche UFC), MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings.

The defeated O’Malley, meanwhile, has slid seven positions to #13. Dvalishvili’s friend and teammate Aljamain Sterling is out of the top 15 entirely following the Georgian’s arrival.

Women’s Strawweight: No changes.

Women’s Flyweight: The sole change at 125 pounds has seen Grasso slip back to top contender status, swapping positions with now-champ Shevchenko.

Flyweight: In the male 125-pound weight class, Asu Almabayev has moved up one place to share #14 with the recently retired Matt Schnell.

With Movsar Evloev staying put at #6, the changes have led to a two-place fall to #7 for Arnold Allen.

Lightweight: No changes.

Welterweight: No changes.

Middleweight: No changes.

Light Heavyweight: No changes.

Heavyweight: No changes.

You can view the full updated UFC rankings here.

Continue Reading UFC Rankings Report: Dvalishvili Lands Above Aspinall In P4P Top 10, Muhammad Jumps Du Plessis at MMA News.

Merab Dvalishvili Accomplishes Life Goal with UFC Gold: “I am forever grateful”

Merab Dvalishvili UFC 306 Merab Dvalishvili accomplished the goal of his life at UFC 306 when he captured a UFC world title. The…

Merab Dvalishvili accomplished the goal of his life at UFC 306 when he captured a UFC world title. The relentless Georgia-born wrestler was able to control Sean O’Malley to earn the UFC bantamweight world championship.

Dvalishvili’s path to the title was marked by an impressive 10-fight winning streak leading up to UFC 306. During this run, he defeated several former champions including Henry Cejudo, Petr Yan, and Jose Aldo, showcasing his ability to compete at the highest level of this competitive division.

UFC 306

Known for his relentless pressure and strong wrestling skills, Dvalishvili implemented his game plan perfectly against O’Malley ay UFC 306. He consistently took the fight to the ground and controlled the action, neutralizing O’Malley’s striking advantage. His performance was dominant enough that he made O’Malley look flat in the octagon, according to Dana White, UFC president.

The victory at UFC 306 was particularly meaningful for Dvalishvili as he became only the second Georgian fighter to win a UFC title, following in the footsteps of featherweight champion Ilia Topuria. This accomplishment holds great significance for his home country, with reports of massive crowds in Georgia celebrating his win.

Merab Dvalishvili does not want Umar Nurmagomedov, names his next opponent

Merab Dvalishvili’s Dream

It has been his life’s goal and dream to earn a UFC world title. Merab Dvalishvili accomplished this at UFC 306. He shared his happiness on X, formerly Twitter. He said:

“I have dreamed of this moment all of my life. It finally hit me in the cage when the belt was strapped around me – DREAMS become REALITY. Work hard and everything is possible! I am forever grateful to all of my fans, family, and friends for their love and support and especially for my team – I am blessed!”

He also went on to thank his training team such as former UFC champions Matt Serra and Aljamain Sterling, plus head coach Ray Longo.

I have dreamed of this moment all of my life. It finally hit me in the cage when the belt was strapped around me – DREAMS become REALITY. Work hard and everything is possible! I am forever grateful to all
of my fans, family, and friends for their love and support and especially… pic.twitter.com/dbIWxP5UPn

— Merab “The Machine” Dvalishvili (@MerabDvalishvil) September 16, 2024

Team Khabib issues warning after Merab Dvalishvili’s silence on Umar Nurmagomedov

Off the back of his apparent refusal to feature against surging Russian challenger, Umar Nurmagomedov off the back of…

Off the back of his apparent refusal to feature against surging Russian challenger, Umar Nurmagomedov off the back of his title win, Merab Dvalishvili has been issued a stern warning from the former’s training partners and family.

Dvalishvili, who headlined Noche UFC over the course of last weekend at the Las Vegas Sphere, landing a one-sided unanimous judging win over defending champion, Sean O’Malley in the pair’s title grudge match.

Wrestling and grappling his way to a shutout win over the Montana striker, Dvalishvili landed the undisputed bantamweight crown at the first time of asking in the UFC, and immediately welcomed the chance to first and foremost welcome a title charge from former undisputed flyweight best, Deiveson Figueiredo.

“Whoever they [the UFC] want, I will fight next, but I want to talk to Dana (White),” Merab Dvalishvili told assembled media following Noche UFC. “I want to become his friend — I want to fight the top of the top, you know. I think (Deiveson) Figueiredo would be my fifth champion, he is more dangerous, knockout power, good Jiu-Jitsu, makes people [go to] sleep.”

“That’s why this fight excites me, gives me motivation, makes me work hard,” Merab Dvalishvili explained. “Umar (Nurmagomedov) is okay, but I’m telling you guys, from the top-15, he’s only won one fight.”

Merab Dvalishvili warned of threat to title by Umar Nurmagomedov

However, after Dvalishvili’s comments, current Bellator MMA lightweight champion, Usman Nurmagomedov claimed that despite the Georgian’s reservations to fight Umar next, he may have no choice but to be shoehorned into a pairing for gold.

“You can run, but you can’t hide,” Usman Nurmagomedov posted on his official X account. “Soon Umar (Nurmagomedov) will become undisputed, undefeated bantamweight champion, and will hold the belt for as long as he wants.”

Sean O’Malley’s Coach Explains What He Said to Merab Dvalishvili During UFC 306 Main Event

The UFC 306 headliner was a pretty straightforward affair with Merab Dvalishvili using his wrestling to dominate Sean O’Malley…

The UFC 306 headliner was a pretty straightforward affair with Merab Dvalishvili using his wrestling to dominate Sean O’Malley for 25 minutes and leave Sphere with the bantamweight title.

However, there was a fairly interesting moment right from the get-go that brought a stop to the action.

In the opening seconds of their main event clash, Dvalishvili began mouthing off, but his words weren’t being directed at O’Malley. Instead, ‘The Machine’ was trading verbal jabs with O’Malley’s coach, Tim Welch. Referee Herb Dean quickly stepped in to admonish Dvalishvili for talking to O’Malley’s corner. He also issued a warning to Welch for what was described on the broadcast as “excessive coaching.”

While Welch’s words to Dvalishvili could not be heard during the broadcast, O’Malley’s coach later revealed what he said in the opening seconds.

“I said be patient Merab, but congrats he fought a great fight,” Welch wrote on X.

It’s not the first time Tim Welch has been caught ‘coaching’ another UFC fighter

It’s not the first time Welch has been busted trying to “coach” an opposing fighter. As seen in the Fight Inc: Inside the UFC documentary on Roku, Welch appeared to communicate with Aljamain Sterling during the fighter’s bantamweight title tilt with O’Malley at UFC 292. Moments later, ‘Sugar’ caught Sterling with a booming right hand as the then-champ was looking to close the distance.

Moments later, the fight was over and O’Malley was crowned the new king at 135 pounds.

Unfortunately for O’Malley, he couldn’t handle the smothering attack of Dvalishvili, bringing an end to his reign after just 13 months.

Dvalishvili has now won 11 straight fights inside the Octagon and will likely face a tough test in his first title defense as he’s expected to meet No. 2 ranked contender Umar Nurmagomedov.

Umar Nurmagomedov’s Coach On Merab Dvalishvili: ‘Cain Velasquez In The Bantamweight Division’

Umar Nurmagomedov’s coach recently heaped praise on Merab Dvalishvili’s relentless fighting style. “The Machine” turned in arguably the best performance of his career when it mattered most, dominating Sean O’Malley in the main event of Noche UFC 306 last weekend at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada, to claim the 135-pound title. The bout played […]

Continue Reading Umar Nurmagomedov’s Coach On Merab Dvalishvili: ‘Cain Velasquez In The Bantamweight Division’ at MMA News.

Umar Nurmagomedov’s coach recently heaped praise on Merab Dvalishvili’s relentless fighting style.

“The Machine” turned in arguably the best performance of his career when it mattered most, dominating Sean O’Malley in the main event of Noche UFC 306 last weekend at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada, to claim the 135-pound title.

The bout played out precisely as many experts had foreseen, with Dvalishvili applying relentless aggression from the opening bell to the final horn. His barrage of takedowns and commanding grappling exchanges completely neutralized O’Malley’s striking arsenal.

Dvalishvili was all gas, no brakes, taking “Suga” down at will and dictating the pace for the majority of the contest. By the end, the victor was clear, with Dvalishvili claiming UFC gold via a decisive unanimous decision from the judges.

Following Dvalishvili’s victory, a whirlwind of speculation has erupted over who will step up as the Georgian’s first title challenger. Throughout fight week, the newly crowned UFC bantamweight champion has consistently floated Deiveson Figueiredo as the most deserving opponent. At the same time, Dvalishvili has shown a noticeable disinclination to face the undefeated Nurmagomedov next.

Mendez Foresees How Potential Dvalishvili vs. Nurmagomedov Clash Would Play Out

During a recent interview with Submission Radio, Mendez was asked to weigh in on how a potential title showdown between Dvalishvili and Nurmagomedov might unfold. The renowned MMA coach lauded ‘The Machine’s’ incredible cardio, predicting that the reigning champion would present a formidable challenge for his protégé. However, he noted that the Dagestani has certain advantages that could shift the momentum in his direction.

“It’s going to be fought on the standup, it’s going to be fought on the ground,” Mendez said. “I believe we’re sharper on the stand-up. I believe we’re sharper on the ground. I believe what he has is incredible cardio, and that’s a big part that’s to his advantage. I don’t know of anybody in the bantamweight division that has that kind of advantage. He’s got incredible cardio, so if you’re going to go with him and it’s going to go five rounds, you’ve got to be prepared to go five hard first rounds because that’s what this guy is all about. He’s got an incredible gas tank; he kind of reminds me of Cain Velasquez in the bantamweight division.”

Mendez went on to reveal that Nurmagomedov is poised to be the next challenger for Dvalishvili’s title. According to him, discussions for the potential showdown are already underway, though he expressed some uncertainty about how things will unfold in the near future.

“As far as I know, it [the fight] is being offered. It’s just a matter of whether they can work out the deal. You never know what’s going on behind the scenes, right? So even though I’m telling you this, it may be something else. I do know that we are supposed to be the next challengers after this [Noche UFC 306]. That’s why he [Nurmagomedov] was there. Why did they show him as the next challenger for the title? Why did Joe Rogan even bring it up if they weren’t trying to build up the next fight? It’s the next fight. Now, will it happen? Let’s see.”

Nurmagomedov is riding a six-fight undefeated streak in the Octagon and is fresh off a commanding unanimous decision victory over Cory Sandhagen in the main event of UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi this past August.

The younger cousin of UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov has been campaigning for a title shot ever since his last victory, but Dvalishvili has put his challenge on ice. Now, only time will reveal who the reigning champion selects as his next opponent.

Read More: Kamaru Usman Tells Merab Dvalishvili To ‘Embrace’ Umar Nurmagomedov Challenge: ‘I Had Colby Covington’

Continue Reading Umar Nurmagomedov’s Coach On Merab Dvalishvili: ‘Cain Velasquez In The Bantamweight Division’ at MMA News.